Update Ladak: 31 augustus.

Dear friends,

After the catastrophic floods in Leh on 5th & 6th August 2010, communication

system has been badly affected. I could check my mails only today (26th August) and found several mails from our well wishers and friends enquiring our safety and welfare. Our profound thanks goes to all for your concerned in our crises.

6th August has been the most tragic day in the history of Ladakh. An unprecedented devastating thunder storm with terrifying lightning & cloud burst flooded many parts of Ladakh. Within 10 to 15 minutes, once the beautiful scenic Leh turn into a grave yard. Many people are still missing.

Though, Lamdon School was very lucky to escape from the terrifying floods, but many of our children staying at different areas are not that fortunate. One of our teacher and his wife and two students perished in the floods. Many parents of our children made homeless and buried or washed away what ever they have.

Situation in Leh is still grave. People are panic and in a psychological trauma & it will take time to come out from this trauma and heal the suffering. We, on our part trying our best to extend whatever assistance this affected students needs within our limited resources. As an immediate relief, we gave uniforms, books & stationeries and other essential needs to the affected students of our school. Now, we are very much concerned about their future education. The parents are not in a position to take care of tuition fees of their children. Hence, we appeal our well-wishers and other benevolent people to extend support and sponsor the affected children. We would be happy to send detail information of the children if anyone wished so.

With regards and looking forward to hear sympathetic response.

Sincerely yours,

Eshey TundupPrincipal

Update Ladak: zaterdag 21 augustus.

Van Ravi Tickoo ontvingen we onderstaand rapport.

Samengevat is te stellen dat de situatie ernstiger is dan aanvankelijk gedacht. In totaal vielen 180 slachtoffers (doden) en vele gewonden . Onder de doden enkele leerlingen van TCV Choglamsar en twee leerlingen en 1 docent van Lamdon Leh. Onder hen Sonam Angmo die met haar groep vorig jaar Nederland bezocht. In Spituk vielen geen slachtoffers te betreuren. Ons leedwezen gaat uit naar ouders familie en school van Sonam. We zullen haar straks in ons Xplore boek gedenken.

De materiële schade in Ladakh is groot. Op dit moment helpen vele soldaten, permanent in Ladakh gestationeerd, en vele NGO’s bij het verlenen van noodhulp. Volgens Maurice Nelissen clusterleider van Grotius / Bernardinus, momenteel reizend in Ladakh, staan er overal tentenkampen. De getroffen bevolking wordt opgevangen en langzaam herneemt het leven zijn gang. Het mag duidelijk zijn dat structurele hulp bij opbouw van de vele getroffen huizen en scholen veel geld kost. Op initiatief van enkele Blariacumleerlingen dit jaar op werkbezoek in Ladakh willen wij een gezamenlijke geld inzamelings actie starten. Wilde Ganzen gaf direct aan ons hierbij te willen steunen met de gebruikelijke 70 % verdubbeling.

Met alle SGE scholen zal binnenkort overlegd worden hoe het meest effectief een actie op te starten.

Namens Global Exploration Jos Smeets



De mail van Ravi Tickoo chairman Global Exploration India.

Many thanks for your mails and subsequent phone calls concerning Ladakh Disaster and welfare of our partners.

As you know I have visited to Leh on behalf of Global Exploration to meet all our partners during these difficult time .I have been travelling to Leh from Last twenty five years and this is the first time I have witnessed such kind of Disaster which has taken so many lives and destroyed huge property .

During my visit I had a detailed discussion with all our partners and thankfully most of them are fine and safe .

Regarding Spituk Visit:

I have met with Gashe Lobzang Rinchen, Gashe Takpa Gigmet, Thuptan Gendum , Ven Thupstan Peldan and other young Lama students and staff members. All of them were fine but of course shaken with the mentioned disaster. All their School buildings and other property of this monastery is safe . During our discussion they have conveyed their thanks to You and all Xplore team and are grateful for the help they have received so far. They are happy to be associated with us and work for Together one world.

Gashe Takpa Gigmat , has been shifted from Spituk monastery and will be now holding a post of secretary of Rinpoche at Karnatka , He will be now living in Karnatka instead of Leh. Now Mr. Thuptan Gendun will be co-coordinating with us instead of Gashe Takpa.

Regarding Lamdon Leh:

I have also visited Lamdon Leh School , but unfortunately I could not meet Mr. Eshe Tundup during my visit , he was on tour out of Leh. We have met some teachers in the school ad they said everything is fine. Even Motup was with me so we had no information about the Death of Ms. Sonam Angmo. I have spoken to Eshe Tundop this afternoon after you informed me about the unfortunate death of Ms. Sonam Angmo, he has confirmed the sad tragic death of Sonam Angmo due to the flash floods. It is very Sad to know about her tragic demise. When I enquired why nobody from your school has told me about the Death of Sonam Angmo, he said that they were not certain to give this information to any body at that point of time, perhaps , because police and other agencies were still not confirming the death. As you know many people were washed away by these floods and bodies are drowned to Pakistan via Indus water, may be Govt. Wants to see the dead body before confirming the death. Finally he has confirmed today her unfortunate death. There has been other two casulties of Lamdon School one more Student and Teacher who were living in the area where this tredgy has happened.

On behalf of Golbal Xploration I have sent a condolence to Mr. Eshe Tundup and the school on the sad demise of Ms. Sonam Angmo and other student (Ms. fatima ) and Teacher ( Mr. Motup Tenzing ) .I have assured Mr. Eshe of our full support and sympethy in this difficult times of their life . I shall be contacting them once again and will also ask Motup to visit the family of Sonam Angmo.

Regarding Lamdon Shey:

During my visit to Lamdon Shey and meetinmg with Rev. Lobzang Sonam and other staff and management,thankfully all of them were safe and fine, but keeping in view the impact of the flush floods they all had a very narrow escape. Some parts of their building were effected and water had rose almost up to 5 feet. It was the very timely decision of their teacher Mr. Manoj which has saved lives of many children. They have shifted all the children to the safer place . Now school has started partially resuming the daily routine . Some part of their school boundry wall was also washed by the flood waters. They have been very co-ordial this time and asked me to thank you and everybody at Xplore for the great help in past and for future..

There are some other letters received from Lamdon Shey which I shall scan and forward you soon.

Regarding TCV Choglamsar:

I have visited the school area two times, first day I could not meet to the Director and principal of the school, perhaps they were on holiday due to Sunday, anyway I have gone again on Monday to meet them and could only meet school Principal and Secratery Mr. Rabten. Though all the school and its property was saved , but I can say it has been a miraculous escape for all of them as well . It could have been a bigest disaster in case water had changed a bit its direction. Any way we all are very thankfull to almighty for their safety. I haveconveyed your message that Global xploration would like to have a very close co-operation and are happy to help in future as well in their cause of spreading education and help. I hope they will show a bit more ethusiasm and willingness to work towrards together one world.

To sum up it was a very Sad to see the devastation on one side and hope on the other side of the life. I have spoken to many victims and local bodies besideds our parteners and assured them that we at global xploration are with them at this difficult time and will try our best with the support of the children ( who are our furture ) to raise some help for the deserving ones. Howerver, at this point of time it is a bit difficult situation to assess what exactely is the loss who needs the help most.because so many agencies are working at the ground , Central Governiment, State Govt. NGO’S , other associations, therefore, I beleive it is very important to see may be some people in the process get too much help and others get nothing. Please give me some more time to see after cordinating with other partners and agencies what best can be done for the needy people on long term bases.

I will forward you other information soon.

Once again my apologies for the delay in forwarding you the detailed report.

Kind Regards,

Ravi Tickoo

Global Xploration India.