With Little Done Since Devastating Floods, Winter Closing In On Ladakh - Times Of India

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LEH: As an unforgiving winter waits to descend on the mountainous desert of Ladakh, its people face the grim possibility of spending the bitter months without a proper roof on their heads. Having suffered due to the August cloudburst, residents of Leh's many villages have been banking on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's word that all houses destroyed during the calamity would be built before the onset of winter. It's been over two months since that promise, and hope is fading away.

Relief work in the flood-affected areas is moving slowly, and those holed up in camps say the cold months ahead could be even more unbearable than the cloudburst. With minimum temperature dipping to as low as minus 30-40 degrees celsius during extremely biting days, Leh winters are harsh for even those furnished with heaters and 'bukharis'. In Choglamsar - one of the worst-affected by flashfloods - natives are busy rebuilding their houses and lives. Most led simple lives, with thought of such catastrophes not even crossing their minds. But that August night changed all that.

Tsering Dolma and her husband Chhering Wangdus, a landlord, had to take a small dwelling unit on rent because they say the tent was too cold for their three little children. "We've been given Rs 1.5 lakh for rehabilitation," said Tsering, as she prepares the cement mixture. With the family's fields too ruined, Chhering fears that they would soon run out of their meager savings. "If we manage to construct the house on time, we'll be able to save on the rent," he added.

Gya also shared his worry about rehabilitation work suffering as migrant labourers would return home by the end of this month. "Nothing is being done to keep them back," he claimed.

EDIT

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Roof-of-the-world-awaits-warm-cover/articleshow/6796380.cms