Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday appreciated the army’s efforts in undertaking rescue and relief operations in the cloudburst-hit areas of Ladakh.

Antony arrived in leh on Tuesday morning to review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work by the armed forces in the cloudburst-hit areas of Ladakh.

“The minister appreciated the army’s efforts in rescue and relief operations in the area,” a defence spokesman said. Later, Antony conducted an aerial survey of the calamity-affected areas adjoining Leh to assess the damage.

Accompanied by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General P C Bhardwaj, Antony was received by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lieutenant General B S Jaswal and Commander of Fire and Fury Corps Lieutenant General S K Singh at Thoise.

ater Lt General S K Singh briefed the Defence Minister on the rescue and relief operations at Tyakshi in Nubra valley, where the army had suffered casualties due to a mudslide on the intervening night of August five and six.

Antony was also briefed by Lt Gen Singh on the latest situation in Ladakh and the army’s role in providing succour to the affected people and restoration of connectivity along Zoji La and Rohtang axis.