6th October, Bandipura, Srinagar, Kashmir

We reached Bandipura after going through beautiful Himalayan roads. On the way we passed the Wullar lake, which is the Asia’s biggest lake. Lot of flooded water had flown in Wullar as well and we were told that many animal carcasses as well as human dead bodies had also flown into the Wullar lake.

We reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office at around 10:30 am. We received a warm welcome by the officials. Within few minutes the Deputy commissioner, Shah Faesal and his dynamic team walked into the office. We discussed the plan for our medical camps so that maximum affected people could be benefitted. DC came across as a very sincere and hardworking person. The resonance between our common feeling to do something for the flood affected people was so buoyant, that we immediately set out to take stock of the situation in the local villages namely Zalpora, Hajim, Naugam and Banyar. Faesal ji showed us the schools and hospitals submerged in waters. In some places the bunds that were supposed to prevent overflow had completely broken. These bunds were the only links between villages and now that these are broken, people have to depend on a boat to get across. People whose houses had been damaged, were now living on the bund in small tents and tin sheds. As it was evening time it was getting chilly an we were thinking how difficult it would be for these people as the acute winter sets in the month of November.

Looking at the unhygienic conditions of the people, mal-nutritioned children and the poverty, it was quite clear that even though our medical camp would just be a drop in the ocean, it could be the life saving drop none the less. Our entire team was eagerly looking forward to serve the people in these villages.

High school submerged in water

It was a physically tiring day, but looking at people’s plight, all the tiredness faded away into an oblivion. Realizing that we are just an instrument and infact through us Amma is reaching out to Her children in Kashmir to bring some solace to them, we felt blessed to be part of this noble mission.

-Amit