At least 59 people were killed and many others went missing after heavy downpour triggered flash floods devastating Leh in the Ladakh region. 59 bodies have been recovered from the flooded areas, J and K Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said three jawans of the Army Service Corps were among the dead. He said a massive rescue operation was underway involving the state police, paramilitary forces and the army in Leh town. Khoda said, 50 CRPF jawans were rescued from the flooded areas.The BSNL network was completely damaged, besides the runway of the Leh airport, cutting off the town from the rest of the country. The district hospital and two buildings housing offices of the Union Home Ministry were also affected. Five villages have been hit in the sudden downpour and flashfloods. These included Choglumsar and Shapoo. Old Leh city was among the worst affected. The main bus stand was flattened.Leh is located at a height of 11,500 feet above sea level, 424 kilometres from Srinagar. The worst hit was Choglumsar area, 13 kms from here, where 14 bodies were recovered. AIR Leh Correspondent Yangchan Dolma reports that more than hundred people are feared killed in one of the worst ever floods in Leh. Landslides also caused road blocks in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar-Leh National Highway remained closed due to the sudden Flash Flood in Kargil District.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing grief over the tragedy, has directed the civil and police administration to undertake relief and rescue work on a war footing.Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra expressed grief over the loss of life and property due to the flash floods in Leh and Ladakh region of the state. The governor expressed his sympathy with the affected families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in this natural calamity. He called upon the district administration to immediately mobilize all required assistance to the affected.All flights from Delhi to Leh have been cancelled.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed grief over the loss of life and property in the flash floods in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia relief from the PM's National Relief Fund of one lakh rupees each to the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured.