NDMA team to inspect Phutkal river blockade in JK

A team of National Disaster Management Authority will reach Ladakh to formulate an action plan to respond to landslides and clear blockage of river Phuktal in Zanskar sub-division of Kargil.
The committee will reach Leh on February 8 and then proceed to the blockage site of Zanskar in Kargil district, an official spokesperson said.
"This was decided in a meeting held in National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on February 3," he said.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra had asked the NDMA to constitute a multi-disciplinary expert group to evolve an action plan for dealing with the situation arising out of landslides and consequential blockage of river Phuktal in Zanskar sub-division.

On December 31 last, Phuktal suffered a blockade by a massive 200 feet high landslide dam, equivalent to the height of a 20-storey building.
V D Roy, Director CWC will be the team leader of the expert committee.

Deputy Commissioner Kargil shall be the Nodal Officer to conduct and liasion with the committee which would work out the modalities of mitigating the situation arising out of the blockage after physically visiting the site, he said.
The district administrations of Leh and Kargil have already taken various preventive measures, including stopping all movement of people on the Chadder trek between Chilling and Padum in the Ladakh region, and also cautioning people residing in the adjoining areas, he added.

A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said that following the governor's direction, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has made arrangements for airlifting of persons stranded due to stoppage of movement of people on the Chadar route.