On 7th of September 2014, the saffron town of Pampore was completely submerged in water as valley witnessed worst floods ever in its recorded history. Equipped with a mobile phone Associate Editor Kashmir Life, Shams Irfan managed to capture part of the devastation from Pampore.

People watch helplessly as water submerged most of the areas in Saffron town of Pampore.
People watch helplessly as water submerged most of the areas in Saffron town of Pampore.

 

By Sunday noon houses located at high-rise areas in Kadalbal were completely inaccessible to people.
By Sunday noon houses located at high-rise areas in Kadalbal were completely inaccessible to people.

 

 

It was the make-shift boats that kept the life going to some extent in flooded streets of Pampore.
It was the make-shift boats that kept the life going to some extent in flooded streets of Pampore.

 

Who would have thought that the streets where life danced a few hours ago are now part of the extended Jhelum, said a local resident.
Who would have thought that the streets where life danced a few hours ago are now part of the extended Jhelum, said a local resident.
People used all sorts of material to access areas submerged by water.
People used all sorts of material to access areas submerged by water.
As Jhelum breached at several places in Pampore houses located as far away as Tulbagh, Konibal and Myej were completely flooded.
As Jhelum breached at several places in Pampore houses located as far away as Tulbagh, Konibal and Myej were completely flooded.
There were just helpless faces who hoped for some assistance from government that never came.
There were just helpless faces who hoped for some assistance from government that never came.
It was the local SHO who worked tirelessly to manage part of the crisis with a small team of volunteers to save people trapped in the floods.
It was the local SHO who worked tirelessly to manage part of the crisis with a small team of volunteers to save people trapped in the floods.
Among many things Police station Pampore managed to secure part of 45,000 gas cylinders that got washed away by the flood water from HP Gas Plant.
Among many things Police station Pampore managed to secure part of 45,000 gas cylinders that got washed away by the flood water from HP Gas Plant.

 

Schools in Pampore became make-shift relief camps as 90 per cent of the town was reeling under flood water.
Schools in Pampore became make-shift relief camps as 90 per cent of the town was reeling under flood water.

 

A small hillock in Pampore known to locals as Davour was all that was left dry on 7th September, 2014. It was where around 5000 non-local labourers took shelter as brick-kilns they worked in were inundated in water.
A small hillock in Pampore known to locals as Davour was all that was left dry on 7th September, 2014. It was where around 5000 non-local labourers took shelter as brick-kilns they worked in were inundated in water.
Locals allege that Pampore was completely neglected by the authorities as nobody came to help. It was volunteers who managed the show by whatever resources they had to keep the life going.
Locals allege that Pampore was completely neglected by the authorities as nobody came to help. It was volunteers who managed the show by whatever resources they had to keep the life going.
Long desperate queues for securing fresh drinkable water was part of the everyday life for flood affected people of Pampore.
Long desperate queues for securing fresh drinkable water was part of the everyday life for flood affected people of Pampore.

 

 

 

 

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