- 16 flights can-celled due to high temperature, IMD issues advisory
Yash Khajuria
Leh, July 31: Amid rising temperatures in the serene landscapes of Ladakh, Lamayuru and Lingshed villages were struck by massive flash floods last night, following heavy rainfall that wreaked havoc across the villages. The deluge caused extensive damage to public and private properties, disrupted critical infrastructure, and left locals grappling with significant losses.
The flash floods inflicted severe damage on the National Highway, a crucial lifeline for the region, hampering transportation and isolating communities. The impact of the disaster has necessitated an urgent and coordinated response from the authorities.
In the wake of the catastrophe, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Tashi Gyalson issued immediate directions to the District Administration to mobilize a response team for relief and restoration efforts. Under his leadership, emergency protocols were swiftly activated to ensure prompt aid to the affected regions. A dedicated team was dispatched to assess and address the situation in Lamayuru, while another assessment team, led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Tehsildar, and other sub-divisional officers, was sent to the severely affected Lingshed. These officers are tasked with evaluating the extent of the damage and spearheading the restoration of the impacted areas.
CEC Tashi Gyalson has also directed all sub-divisional offi-cers across Nubra, Changthang, Khaltse, and Leh subdivisions to remain on high alert, ready to respond to any further emergencies. ‘Our administration is committed to providing immediate relief and ensuring the swift restoration of essential services,’ stated CEC Tashi Gyalson. ‘We stand in solidarity with the flood victims and will take all necessary measures to support them during this challenging time.’
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director for Ladakh, Sonam Lotus expressed significant concerns over the recent steep rise in temperatures in the region, highlighting the impact of the intense heat on Ladakh’s glaciers, which serve as the primary water source for the area. On July 30, Leh recorded a maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees Celsius. While July and August are typically the hottest months in Ladakh, this year has seen unusually high temperatures.
‘Ladakh is a cold desert area but it doesn’t mean that it is always cold here,’ Lotus explained. ‘This time, Leh recorded a highest temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius. At the same time, on 28th July, Kargil recorded the highest temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius. These temperatures are not new. It is always hot in July-August.’
Lotus stressed that the rapid melting of glaciers due to the elevated temperatures poses a significant risk to the region’s water resources. ‘Glaciers are our natural resources and are very valuable. We get water from that glacier, so if the temperatures rise like this – when Ladakh’s 30 degrees is like 40 degrees in the plains – the intense heat will melt the ice bodies faster,’ he added.
In addition to concerns about glacial melting, Lotus issued a weather advisory for tourists, warning of potential flash floods in the coming days. ‘Sometimes, it also rains due to the heat. The monsoon is becoming active now, so it has started becoming cloudy since yesterday which has caused light rain in a few spots. There has been no loss of life or property. We would like to tell the tourists that it is going to rain in the next week. It can take the form of a flash flood in a few areas. So, people will have to be alert these few days. Take this as an advisory. There is no need to panic,” he said. As Ladakh grapples with the dual challenges of flash floods and rising temperatures, the region’s resilience and the swift re-sponse of its administration will be critical in navigating these turbulent times.
In a troubling sign of climate change’s far-reaching impact, Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport has been grappling with significant flight disruptions due to an unprecedented heat wave. Indian airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have been forced to cancel four flights to the airport on Tuesday, extend-ing a streak of cancellations that has persisted for four consecutive days. Since Saturday, July 27, a total of 16 flights have been cancelled as temperatures in Leh surged past 32 degrees Celsius— a rare and alarming phenomenon for this high-altitude region.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had previously cautioned about “anticipated bad weather,” predicting severe heat conditions that have now come to fruition. The heatwave’s impact on Leh’s airport operations, situated 3.3 kilometers above sea level, is particularly striking.
Normally, the airport manages 15-16 flights daily, but the extreme temperatures have compelled airlines to halt operations to avoid leaving aircraft stranded overnight. “This is perhaps the first time an extreme weather event, such as high heat in this high-altitude region, has caused flight cancellations at Leh air-port for three consecutive days,” an airport source reported.
“We cannot recall any similar incidents in the past.” Local hoteliers, dependent on tourist traffic, are voicing their concerns. Jamyang Stanzin, a guest house owner in Leh City, expressed frustration, saying, “While we rely on the in-flux of tourists for our livelihood, this recent climatic shift has not only harmed our businesses but also shocked the local population. We are now facing harsh climatic consequences, such as flash floods and receding water levels.”
