EXPERIENCE

Rainy season has its own importance in Kashmir. Soon after the winter season comes over, starts here this season with the arrival of March. This season then lashes us out till people in the valley get fed up by it. From March it goes in a hassle free manner and after mid-April, it, to some extent, worries people intermittently. No doubt, people require rain for their agricultural activities here, yet­, besides playing a vital role in our folklores and literature through the ages, rain adds to the miseries of people across the valley. Torrential rains bring with them so many worries like flood-fury, traffic snarls, water-logging, clogging of drains, and affect the timely farming activities of the yeomen fraternity. Like some previous years, this year, this season too irritated people a lot as they say excess of everything is bad. This year torrential rains irked people much. Besides the bedlam of joy and an impetus to the new floral life, the incessant wet spells not only raise the water level through out the valley but also affect the very commercial sector the valley. True indeed, has someone said that a slight drizzle or down pour takes us back to the stone ages.

A sunny day pleases all of us. We feel invigorated when sun shines out and feel life going on pleasurably. However, a rainy day not only unfolds bureau of troubles and cheeses us off but we, besides getting bored, equally feel economically jolted because during a rainy day, one has to do too many formalities before actually venturing out from one’s edifice to carry out some work. Rain keeps us caged and leaves no option except either bracing the chill out or snuggling oneself in a cozy blanket to doze-off.

From last more than a month, whenever, I scrolled the screen of my cell-phone to know about what’s happening in the valley. My attention quite often was caught by the weather predictions. True indeed, this time spring, weatherman has predicted too much of rain. Headlines like ‘Weatherman predicts wet spell till April 8’ or ‘One more spell of wet weather on April 21, etc sends shivers down the spine when I go through them. A couple of days back, as I was reading the weather story, I was reminded of my three days at Srinagar when rain had created flood like situation. Come what may, I never stay in the city during rainy days because during these days life here simply goes out of gear. A rainy day unfolds too many problems for Srinagarites. Rain water accumulates here and there in the city due to poor drainage system. Streets start overflowing and appear more like cesspools than anything else thereby troubling too much to the commuters.

Firstly, it was in 2011.I had to fill up my college contract form at Amar Singh College. I still remember it was Sunday that day when I went to stay with a friend of mine at Magarmal because Monday was the last date for the submission. It was raining relentlessly in the entire valley that day. It was my life’s first day to have experienced rainfall in Srinagar. When I left from Baramulla for Srinagar, it was all normal, while I peeped through the window panes of the bus but no sooner the bus reached Bemina than it had to wade through the muddy waters of the city. While inside the bus all the passengers were enjoying

the wading of the bus through the rain water but when the bus conductor signaled us to alight down at Batmaloo market, all of us got cheesed off and started cursing ourselves why we had come to the city. It was so troublesome that all around people were up to their knees in the black dirty waters. Moreover, the vehicles would irk the passersby more than anything when they sprinkled the dirty water over to their clothes. It took me an hour to reach Magarmal Bagh where my friend was waiting for me. Sariabala, Karan Nagar, Iqbal Park area and Magarmal were simply drowned. The stagnated water of the main roads would enter the streets and vice versa thus irking the life of the people. The rain water had mounted up in such a manner in the streets that people had to wade through the knee-deep water taking their shoes out in their hands.

Second time, I had to stay with a friend at Ram Munshi Bagh. It was raining that day too. I had to appear in my NET (National Eligibility Test) exam. Those days, the inner lanes of the area were so dilapidated that they would not appear link roads but ponds. I still recall when next day I had to leave for Kashmir University. I saw the whole area inundated with rain water all around. People were leaving their houses with their shoes out in the knee-deep waters for routine work. I too had to wade through the knee-deep water to come on the main road and oh, it was a great agony!

   Thirdly, it was in the month of February, 2013. It was raining over the couple of days across Kashmir. I had to appear in my Internals exams at Kashmir University’s distance education block, the next day. This time, I had to stay again with a friend at Hawal. When I reached Hawal, it was raining very heavily. My friend Shabir had already arrived at the stop to receive me. As I accompanied him towards Ahmeda Kadal in a zigzag manner, water-logged streets welcomed me. To whatever street, we tried to reach the room, it was severely deluged. Ultimately, we both had to take off our shoes and wade through the muddy rain water up to the room. To Shabir it was disgusting for a guest like me to walk through the watery lanes but to me the experience was something I was accustomed of. After taking half an hour’s rest amid heavy downpour, that day, at Shabir’s room, when I stood up to look out of the window. I felt so terrified. Incessant rains were not stopping at all. Streets were appearing cesspools leaving entire area completely caged.

    So, next time, when some of you are planning to visit Srinagar, do not forget to take your shoes off because here a slight shower converts the roads into puddles. These three days still send shivers down the spine. I wonder how Srinagarites who have grown up witnessing water-logged streets over the decades, face all this.

(Manzoor Akash is Rafiabad-based Rising Kashmir Columnist, Freelancer and Teacher by profession. He can be mailed at: manzurakash@yahoo.co.in)