Charkha

The Survey

A villager amidst the ruins of his place
Being locals, this team had the advantage of knowing the terrain and connecting with the people immediately. Hamraz’s NGO ‘Naya Kashmir Hamraz Social Service Club’ based in Badran Magam in Budgam district has been involved with self help groups for community development and promotion of socially relevant messages through traditional performing arts. Their journey which took them to several of the affected areas over four days was tough and circuitous. The route covered Tangdhar tehsil in Kupwara district and Beerwa and Khag tehsils in Budgam district.

The journey in Kupwara took the team through a number of villages including Halmatpura Dadchak, Panjwa Veelgaon and Kralpura where the land and its people lay ravaged. Scenes of death, destruction, lack of food and other basic amenities marked the entire journey. People abandoning their destroyed buildings, were living out in the open in the bitter cold with sometimes nothing more to eat than some ears of corn which was roasted on wood.

A villager amidst the ruins of his place

The sense of fear and anxiety was palpable with relief work not being adequate. In this situation, there were some points of hope and humanity. People were grateful for the efforts of Abdul Majid Khanday, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara. Yet this seemed to be a drop in the ocean. Hamraz and his team were given food and shelter by people who talked candidly to the team which recorded the interactions on a video camera. A special mention needs to be made of Abdul Ahadwani a wireless operator of the Police Department, stationed at Tangdhar where Hamraz and his team got a respite from the cold and hunger. At ‘Sadhna Top’ which remains below freezing point nearly throughout the year at the height of 14714 feet above sea level, the tremors had caused the water in the mountain streams to change colours and was unfit for drinking leaving the local population with no option than to quench their thirst with this concoction. After crossing village Chamkot, the journey culminated at Dragad the last village, beyond which there was no human habitation.