Deluge in Kashmir

Vijay Hashia
Human, the living creature, is always more important than any established style or system and there is something about nature that mesmerizes us some way or the other.  In two and a half decades, Kashmir is deluged by two upheavals, one man made during early 90s and another by natural calamity in the autumn of 2014.
Rain havoc has turned the paradise into hell.   From Udhampur, Reasi, Pargwal, Akhnoor, Rajouri, Surankot, Poonch to the South and Central of Kashmir including the capital city Srinagar, almost entire region of J&K is deluged following intense rain fall that created a situation similar to the onboard voyagers struggling for survival on the Titanic ship which sank in the North Atlantic in 1912.
The tsunami of this kind has never been witnessed for over century, though there is a mention in Rajtarangi that floods and famines in Kashmir occurred during monsoons. There is also a mention of construction of embankments and channels to pave way for flood waters by the kingdoms since times immemorial.  Kalhana mentions that Suyyah during Avantiverman’s reign (9th century AD) regulated the course of Jhelum flood by constructing drains.  He deepened the Jhelum from the Wular Lake to Baramullah and coursed the water into the vast land away from the city jurisdiction that reduced the floods into the city.  The vast land later developed into a new town called Sayyapur, presently known apple rich ‘Sopore’. Rajtarangi gives another account of the ruler Kotea Rani (13th century), got a canal dug for carrying Jhelum water at the entry point to the exit and into the river beyond city limits, thus protecting the city from floods.  The canal after her name ‘Kotea Koal’ (Koal meaning stream) is nonexistent as constructions have come over it.  It was again during Sikh rule in 1836 that Jhelum had flooded and swept away bridges at Khanabal, Bijbehara, Pampore and Amirakadal.  In 1841, the Jhelum over flowed due to heavy rains for seven days and swept away Khanyar, Rainawari and other parts of the city including  six bridges over  the river Jhelum.  Again in 1893, the floods had swept all the bridges except first bridge Amira Kadal built by Amir Khan Jawansher in 1773 AD, later heightened and rebuilt in 1895.  However, there is no mention about 1902 spate which is said to have caused lesser devastation than the present.
The valley of Kashmir is bowl shaped, has incessant rain falls during springs and autumns.  The drainage system in the low lying areas is weakly planned. Low lying areas, which once used to be paddy fields, have been converted into residential layouts without proper drainage system.  The heavy rains chock every nook and corner of the poorly planned layouts. During winters, the valley experiences moderate to heavy snow fall. It engulfs roads, bridges, jams lakes and water pipes, solidifies on the roads and restricts outside movements. The winter odds are different than rain havocs.  Winter preparedness is planned ahead its onset, the rain havocs are unplanned and forgetting.  While snow can be cut to pave the way, the water cannot be, it has to be coursed through construction of channels and culverts. Unplanned urbanisation and lack of preparedness has been the cause for recent devastation.
Post 1980s and 90s have been ‘might is right’ for every politician, businessman, contractor, builder and real estate owner.  Encroachments and constructions on the banks of river Jhelum, Dal, Anchar and Nagin lakes have been unprecedented.  It has chocked water course. For example, Naley Maer, ( Dal drain)  has been converted into ring road; hotel Centeur and vendor shops on and  around the Dal and Nagin lakes; forest encroachments and dwellings at many places around Dachi gaam sanctuary; holy Doodh Ganga, once meant for a holy dip and which served an outlet for the  Jhelum flow, has been converted into shopping complex;  construction of houses on the river bank by the boats men who lived in houseboat; mansions, motels, sit outs and cafes on the river bund which once would be a jogging and strolling charm and which emitted fragrance of Chinar trees, emits filthy smell now.
The authorities never thought of protecting environment and had not forecasted such a catastrophe would strike the capital city. National Disaster Management Authority claims to have warned J&K administration in 2012 of the floods but warnings as said were ignored.  NDRF is not well equipped with the resources.  Army is not responsible for disseminating relief during such a catastrophe. They are meant for defending the nation against external aggression.  Even then, it has stood by every Kashmiri risking their own lives. Their soldiers showed an exemplary courage rescuing   trapped men, women, and children, old and indisposed irrespective of religion, colour, caste and creed.   Their grit and gumption of Armed Forces in rescuing human from upheavals, has always been test of time, was it valour against manmade aggression or compassion rendered   against natural calamity.
Suffering and pleasure are relative. What we consider to be suffering till yesterday is no longer suffering today.  To judge an act to be good or bad, we have to look at the complete picture.   Just we cannot pronounce a painting to be good or bad by looking at one small part of it, similarly, we cannot pronounce an act good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant without knowing the act in its complete perspective. The act of Indian Armed Forces cannot be judged by enforcement of AFSPA and its repercussions.   We have to look it in totality considering their valour in protecting nation against sponsored terror and the compassion rendered in the recent time of distress. The question, as voiced often, should the armed forces be considered foes for sustaining AFSPA or friends in Megh Rahat? As waters recede, angers and grievances may rise, stones may keep pelting, anti India tirades may re-echo but the fact is service before self, protection, kindness or compassion is human, cruelty is brutal and inhuman.

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