Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 4: For the people of Zainpora, Pampore, last night will be remembered not only for the breach of the Jhelum bund but also for the heartbreak of watching their homes “slowly drowning before their eyes.”
“We built this house brick by brick over many years. In just one night, it drowned before us,” said Ghulam Hassan, pointing to the water-filled courtyard of what was once his two-storey home.
He said a lifetime of effort was washed away in just a few hours.
The bund breach came with little warning. Residents recalled hearing “three loud bangs” before water rushed in like a monster, flooding alleys and fields.
Some families ran barefoot into the darkness, carrying children and the elderly on their shoulders. Others climbed to rooftops and upper stories, watching helplessly as the river swallowed everything in its path.
“My dowry floated out like a toy. I could do nothing but watch,” said Rafiqa, her hands trembling. “That chest had my daughter’s future. How will I face her now?”
For many, the memories of 2014 resurfaced instantly. “Back then we thought it was once in a lifetime. But this… this feels worse,” said Abdul Majid, a farmer. “In 2014 we lost crops. This time we saw our homes drown.”
Meanwhile, the residents said what makes the trauma unbearable is not just the loss itself, but the helplessness of watching it unfold. On higher ground, women huddled in groups, recalling the night in broken sentences.
