Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 27: With the Jhelum swelling dangerously after days of incessant rain, residents of Kursu Rajbagh in Srinagar turned to self-defense on Wednesday, lining riverbanks and lanes with sand and sandbags in a desperate bid to prevent a breach.
Throughout the day, men and youth ferried bags of sand, stacking them along the water’s edge and at vulnerable embankments.
“Some waded knee-deep into the rising water, while others formed human chains to pass heavy sacks, all under the looming fear of another major flood,” eyewitnesses from the area said.
“We cannot sit idle and wait. The water is already entering our lanes and could breach at any moment. We must act ourselves to save our homes,” said Sahil Ahmad, a resident, his hands coated in mud after hours of hauling bags.
Soon, the effort became collective. Men distributed food and water to those working outside, while children helped by carrying small loads. Elderly residents sat nearby, recalling the devastation of 2014 that still haunts Rajbagh. “The fear has returned. Every drop that seeps through brings back those memories,” one elderly woman whispered, watching her neighbors at work.
Despite official assurances that teams are monitoring embankments, locals complained that immediate support was missing. “It is we who are defending Rajbagh right now. Authorities must step in before it is too late,” a group of young residents said.
Notably, as night fell, the sight of stacked sandbags stood as a fragile but determined shield—proof of the community’s resolve to fight the rising Jhelum with their own hands. Yet, whispers among residents grew louder that the water might enter residential areas by night or by morning.
