Seasonal floods batter Sankoo; 10 cattle swept away, exposing flood protection gaps

HABEEL SAGAR

KARGIL: Around 10 cattle were swept away in a flash flood at Batkhar Nallah in Chumikchan village of Sankoo Sub-Division on July 18, renewing concerns over the recurring devastation caused by seasonal floods and triggering fresh demands for permanent flood mitigation measures and immediate compensation for affected families.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of villages along Batkhar Nallah, where residents say flash floods have become an almost annual occurrence, repeatedly destroying livestock, agricultural land and private property while exposing the absence of long-term flood-control infrastructure.

According to local residents, the July 18 flash flood surged through Batkhar Nallah, trapping cattle in fast-moving waters and causing substantial financial losses to livestock owners. The affected families have appealed to the Ladakh Administration for compensation to help them recover from the economic impact of the disaster.

Residents said the powerful surge in the nallah swept away the cattle, inflicting heavy economic losses on families who depend on livestock as a primary source of livelihood. They urged the Ladakh Administration to provide immediate compensation while initiating permanent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The latest incident has once again drawn attention to what residents describe as a recurring crisis in Batkhar Nallah. According to villagers, flash floods have become an almost annual occurrence, repeatedly damaging livestock, agricultural land and private property. They alleged that despite repeated representations over the years, no durable flood mitigation infrastructure has been put in place to address the persistent threat.

Residents further claimed that the issue has been raised on several occasions before local councillors and public representatives, but without any concrete outcome. They maintained that the timely construction of flood protection works, strengthening of embankments and other mitigation measures could have substantially reduced the impact of recurring floods.

The renewed demand for long-term intervention comes as flash floods have affected several parts of Sankoo Sub-Division.

Meanwhile, residents of Batkhar appealed to the Ladakh Administration, the concerned departments and elected representatives to move beyond temporary relief and implement comprehensive flood protection measures capable of addressing the recurring hazard. They also urged the incumbent Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Haji Mohmad Haneefa Jan, and former MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal to pursue the long-pending demand for permanent flood mitigation works, arguing that recurring flash floods continue to threaten livelihoods and leave farming communities vulnerable year after year.