Letter To Editor: Kashmir Still Drowns In Neglect

Eleven years after the devastating floods of 2014, Kashmir remains on edge every September. The Jhelum rises, rains fall, and the memories of families stranded on rooftops or watching their homes and harvests vanish come rushing back.

While Jammu has recently borne the brunt of heavy rainfall, the valley itself has been reminded how fragile its flood preparedness remains.

The river, once wide and free to flow into natural basins and wetlands, has been constricted over the years. Silt has raised its bed, illegal buildings crowd its banks, and wetlands like Wular and Hokersar that once absorbed floodwaters have been reduced or built over.

Srinagar, dependent on its canals and waterways, now suffers from blocked drains and stagnant streets during even ordinary rain.

Climate change adds a new layer of urgency. Rainfall is no longer predictable, with sudden downpours and faster glacier melt increasing the volume of water entering the Jhelum. Farmers in Budgam and Pulwama watch their paddy fields with worry, knowing that a single heavy night of rain can wipe out months of work. Families keep suitcases packed for sudden evacuations, and children who were small during the 2014 floods now carry memories of trauma that grow with each passing year.

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