MALAYSIANS SCALE HIMALAYAS TO HEAL LADAKHI FLOOD VICTIMS

By P. Vijian

LEH (Ladakh), India, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- It was total self-sacrifice by several
Malaysians who scaled the rugged Himalayan mountains to bring cheers to
traumatised families and children in the remote Ladakh, distressed by a recent
cloudburst.

The six-member team from Kuala Lumpur fended off altitude illness, mountain
chill and risked they own safety to reach Leh, Ladakh's capital, cradled at an
altitude of 3,524m, just to share their compassion in the hour of need.

Lanterns for the kids, food stuff, torch lights and cash collected from
Malaysian well-wishers, as well as Malaysians residing in India, were
distributed to the Ladakhis, many still stranded without decent homes and
clothing after the devastating flash floods.

"We are trying to get sponsors for 14 orphans, aged between six and 14, as they
have lost everything.

"Our fund-raising campaign in Malaysia will continue because lot of
restoration works in the fields need to be done," team leader Charlie Chia Lui Meng
told Bernama.

During the Aug 6 midnight cloud burst tragedy -- never experienced in the last
100 years in Ladakh -- according to elders, 215 people lost their lives and over
70 are reported missing.

The gushing waters from the mountains destroyed at least 1,000 homes and
schools, and injured nearly 600 people, as many were asleep when the natural
calamity struck.

Families and children are still languishing in make-shift tents on hilly areas,
after losing their belongings.

"We have distributed basic rations (food packets) to 19 families in
Choglamsar village, one of the worst-hit places, and are also trying to get a JCB
(excavator) to help them clear the mud on the fields so that villagers could return
to farming quickly.

"We need to work fast as winter is approaching in about two months' time," said
Chia, who is linked to the Buddhist Gem Fellowship in Petaling Jaya.

The Malaysian Desk Ladakh in Petaling Jaya is collecting funds for the victims.

Ladakh, a popular tourist destination, is located in the state of Jammu and
Kashmir.
-- BERNAMA