Jammu and Kashmir floods: Faiths come together to tide over crisis

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: The enormity of the disaster that's struck J&K has drawn people across social and religious lines closer like never before.

Residents in the safer reaches have sheltered the flood-hit in their homes, gurdwaras, mosques and temples.

Srinagar's Sikhs are running round the-clock langars at Barzulla and Rangreth Gurdwaras. "We're feeding those who've been evacuated," Gurmeet Singh of Rangreth said. "The gurdwaras are open to all." The Barzulla shrine alone has taken in close to 2,000 people.

Vijay Bakaya, former state chief secretary and National Conference legislator found shelter in an Alamdar Colony mosque after flood waters drowned his home. "I took refuge in the mosque after my house went under. I was there for a few hours till Muslim friends got to know of my plight and helped me move to Friends Colony near the airport," he said. Thousands have taken refuge in mosques across Srinagar, where volunteers are looking after them despite scarcity of food, drinking water and medicines. Some residents have taken in as many as two dozen people in their homes.

Srinagar youth, who often take part in stone-throwing street protests, are helping tourists, guiding them to shelters and the airport. They've strung up posters with pointers showing the way to the airport. Ramakanth of Delhi and his family were vacationing in Srinagar when the floods struck. On Tuesday, they had no money to pay their hotel bills because credit card machines weren't working.

"The hotelier let us go without paying. We promised to transfer the money into his account once we reached home," he said.

Jammu-resident Sachin Sharma said he had taken shelter outside Srinagar's Shankaracharya Temple atop a hill near Dal Lake with his family.

"Temple volunteers are looking after 1,500 people,'' said Sharma, who was holidaying in Srinagar.

Congress leader Salman Soz cited a source saying once people are rescued, there's none from the government to take care of them.

Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari echoed Soz. "While the government has no address in Kashmir, people are doing a commendable job, rescuing the stranded and arranging food," he said.