SRINAGAR: Shock and disbelief struck residents of Pampore’s Zainpora in the dead of night when, around 2:30 am, gushing waters of the river Jhelum breached into their locality.
Locals recalled they first heard three loud bangs, ‘probably of bund breakage,’ before water suddenly began entering their homes and streets. “It was like the river roared at us,” said a woman, staring at her submerged home from the street.
She said within minutes, water was everywhere. “People rushed out in fear, carrying children and whatever essentials they could grab, not knowing where to go.”
Outside her partially submerged house, a middle-aged woman with moist eyes told KNO they were awake when they heard a strange sound. The next moment, water came gushing inside. “I could barely save my children before half of the first floor of our house went under water,” she recalled.
Locals also described the night as full of chaos and fear, with families fleeing their homes in darkness, shouting warnings to each other as water level rose. Many took shelter on higher ground, while some spent rest of the night outside, unable to return to their homes.
They said that despite the ordeal, the community rallied together, helping eld*erly residents escape and shifting valuables to safer places. “We had no time to think, but everyone helped each other,” said a resident.
Meanwhile, authorities and rescue teams rushed to the spot to prevent further damage and assist in evacuations. The QRT of 55 Rashtriya Rifles, along with police, SDRF, and other teams, distributed food and essentials among the affected residents while carrying out rescue efforts—(KNO)
