Cloudburst tragedy: Israeli tourists providing succor to locals in Leh

LEH/NEW DELHI - Such is their love for Ladakh, that in this hour of crisis, a group of trapped Israeli tourists have decided to stay back in disaster stuck Leh and lend a helping hand to locals.

Around 50 Israeli tourists, who were stranded in Leh following the floods, are helping the local community.

A number of young travelers, who were medics in the Israeli Army, have utilized their training and operated a small field hospital in which they have been providing first medical aid to the wounded.

“It was a spontaneous initiative of a number of the Israeli tourists together with other foreign visitors. I think anybody else would have done the same. No one can see the disaster here and say ‘this has nothing to do with me, I’m going home’” said Matan Golan, a 28-year-old tourist from Jerusalem, who is volunteering at the improvised field hospital.

Many of the Israelis could be seen working hand in hand with the locals, clearing the debris and trying to bring life back to normal.

Others collected donations of money and clothes from their counterparts and distributed them to people who lost all their belongings.

Some of the young Israeli tourists took the initiative to entertain the children whose houses were torn down by the floods, trying to put a smile back to their faces.

Ladakh has remained a preferred destination for Israeli tourists. Many Israelis travelers call it a second home and share great rapport with locals and have proven that they are real friends in need.

“It simply warms your heart”, said Irit Schneor, the Israeli Consul in New Delhi, who visited Leh recently.

“In the heart of the devastation and debris, these young Israeli tourists are volunteering around the clock, giving everything they can to help the people who lost their family members and their homes in this awful tragedy,” Schneor added.

He also thanked the Indian authorities and the Indian armed forces for the great efforts and extensive assistance in securing and evacuating the Israeli tourists who were caught in the floods. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)