- Extensive search launched after uniform found by riverbank
Leh, Sept 06: A 16-year-old student, Rigzin Yangdol, from Government School Lamayuru in Leh, has been missing for the past three days, sparking a widespread search operation and community mobilization. Yangdol was last seen on September 3rd when she failed to return home from school, and her family now fears she may have drowned in the Indus River.
Concerns for Yangdol’s safety intensified after her school notified her family that her mobile phone had been confiscated due to signs of distress and depression. The school had planned a counseling session for her, but before it could occur, Yangdol disappeared.
The situation took a grim turn when her family discovered her school uniform near the Indus River’s bank, leading them to suspect she might have drowned. This discovery prompted them to urgently seek assistance from the Ladakh Police and the UT Disaster Response Force (UTDRF).
In response, Chairman/CEC Adv. Tashi Gyalson of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh has mobilized resources for an extensive search operation. Gyalson has instructed the District Commissioner (DC) and the UTDRF to conduct an immediate and thorough search, pledging full support to ensure its success.
The search effort has seen an impressive outpouring of community support. Local youth groups and volunteers have rallied to aid the search, with 25 volunteers from Rocks Sham and an additional 20 arriving with rafts and kayaks. Volunteers from neighboring regions, including Chuchot, Yangthang, Lamayuru, Takmachik, and Khaltsi, have also joined the effort.
Councillor Lobzang Sherab of the Khaltsi Constituency and Lamayuru Councillor Dr. Morup Dorjey have played crucial roles in organizing and coordinating the volunteer response. Their leadership has been instrumental in orchestrating the large-scale search operation.
Special commendation has been given to the NHPC General Manager and their team, who temporarily halted the flow of the Indus River for approximately two hours. This significant gesture has greatly aided the search, allowing rescuers to work more effectively.
SSP Leh, Shruti Arrora (IPS), confirmed to The Earth News that the police have registered an FIR and launched a search operation in response to Yangdol’s disappearance. She also noted that the school had informed the family of Yangdol’s unsettling behavior and the confiscation of her mobile phone. Despite exploring various angles, SSP Arrora emphasized that the focus remains on locating the missing girl.
