TRIP TO HEAVEN TURNED INTO NIGHTMARE -- PART 7

Sept 12:
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Finally the day came when we were out for airport. Actually Our return ticket was booked for 13th Sept. We didn't know how much time will take to reach airport. Whether flood water stuck road on other side. So for safe side we decided to go a day before. If everything goes right we will take lodge near to the airport for a night or if not available we will sleep at airport. With these many thoughts we left hotel a 7 AM. Hotel owner told after crossing zero bridge there is a road on left side.That is river side road. But we didn't know which one was zero bridge. There are lots of bridge. We asked one local people where is the river side road. Local man asked us where you want to go ? We told Rambagh. He told come with us we are also going to that place. We came with them. After crossing bridge road was blocked. He told go that way you will get boat to Rambagh. We told where is the river side road. He told, that is the only way to Rambagh. There is no river side road to Rambagh. We go to that boat place where we saw yesterday taking people to Rambagh. But nothing was there. We asked one local man nearby, about the boat, he told service is not resume yet. It will start at 9 AM. We asked him where is the river side road to Rambagh. He told you crossed that road. Just go back just before bridge there is a road that connects to river side road. we followed the same path. After being distracted by local people there many times, finally we found a route which seems to be the right one, but we heard that, road was broken at many places and we had to walk on tree trunk to cross the road.But didn't know how difficult to cross those. We didn't even bothered for that.
Our only aim was to reach airport anyhow. After walking a few miles we found road was broken and flood water flowing through it. It was looking dangerous. Local people have put tree trunk in between and gas pipes for the support. It seemed difficult to cross as we hold our bags and water bottles. Out of all these, Jyoti wore woodland shoe. As the road was at river side, after flood water goes down it became muddy.Now after walking so much gaps between spikes of the shoe were filled with mud and it became slippery. We crossed the road stepping carefully on the muddy slippery tree trunk.
But it was a big task for Jyoti when he took a step on the trunk and it slipped. Thank god he hold gas pipe. We all didn't know swimming in case he slipped into river. Luckily, by god's grace somehow he crossed it. We heard that there were 4 more breaks like that that we had to cross before reaching Rambagh. It was like a game to reach airport each crossing one level up. On that day I decided I will never buy a woodland shoe. While walking on the road we saw there were still water up to 2nd floor. Some wooden houses were broken down. Somewhere road were broken and house side to the road also buried under road. Some cars were fallen with its wheel upside. Some truck and buses were also under mud. The view was like as if we are inside movie 2012. The scene was exactly what we have seen in movie 2012.It was not a easy task for a normal people to cross all these nature's destruction.  After crossing all hurdles and walking around 7km we found taxi. We hire one taxi to airport. We thought our difficulties ended there.But no, fate had decided something else for us. After 5km to 6km there was water on the road. Taxi went inside the water thought that he will cross the water. But taxi stuck in the water. Water came inside the taxi. Driver said to come outside and push the taxi. I was sitting behind the taxi so I was dry. All other were on the middle so they all were under water.
All went to outside except me. All help the driver to take the taxi out of water. The taxi has engine problem so it didnt start even when it come out of water. All three were completely drenched. we took other taxi and went to airport.It was 11 AM.There were huge crowd in airport looked like railway station. We went inside the airport. Ajay left with luggage I went to check in counter to request whether our ticket can be reschedule to 12th Sept. I explained him all our problem. He told ok just come at 2PM I will reschedule you flight without any extra cost. Jyoti also enquired the same at his counter as his airline was different. The man sitting at his airline counter also said the same. We were happy that finally we will go to our land and alive. At 1:30 PM I again went to check in counter,he rescheduled our flight to 2PM flight.We then finally board our flight and came back to Bangalore.
     With all these problems I agree we missed all the places which is considered as the most beautiful place in the world.But we saw peoples love. how they were helping each other and helping us also in difficult situation. In good situation all will talk to us but the real human being is who talks and helps you in difficult situation. I learned and come to know humanity is still there. I didn't bring any photo from Kashmir but brought their love, thier humanity their kind in nature.I think nature, mountain is not the most beautiful in Kashmir. The people's heart there are much more beautiful. I visited the
most beautiful place in the world by nature. So I didnt missed the trip. I gained a lot from the trip and ofcourse learned how to play taash.

TRIP TO HEAVEN TURNED INTO NIGHTMARE -- PART 6

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TRIP TO HEAVEN TURNED INTO NIGHTMARE -- PART 5

Sept 10:
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We totally broke down lost all hope to return alive to our land. At least we were getting food from hotel owner.Water level was quite low on that day. We went to taxi stand near by and asked one taxi driver whether road to airport was open or not. He told after 2 Km there is still water up to 2nd floor. There is no way to go airport. We came back to hotel room. 5 to 6 chopper were continuously flying on the sky rescuing people some choppers were dropping food packets. Some Army boats were busy in rescuing people who were stuck in their home in flood. But no one was there to help us. Dont know why god was taking so much patience test. But our difficulty was nothing in front of local people.They were continuously complaining central government not helping them but I could see lots of choppers water boats were continuously rescuing people. The sky was look like as if I was watching some SI-FI movie but still local people didn't happy with central government. One Local man told when there was flood in Uttarakhand with in no time central government rescue all the affected people but here government is doing nothing.What to reply them, If we reply against
them in this situation their anger will increase toward us. We told everywhere same case, We all are belongs to odisha where every year flood comes. Not a single help coming from central government to rescue people.After a while we came back to hotel room.We started playing taash it was 1:30 PM hotel owner didn't call us for lunch. We thought food is not cooked.We took dry food and continue taash.At evening hotel owner denied dinner will not be available and told there is a masjid near by you can go there and have your dinner.We said ok no problem we will arrange our food. We went
outside to see the whether water level decreased or not. There construction was like that one side there is Jhelum river by the river side there is road and other side construction. Construction was 8 to 10 feet below the river water level.If river overflows water comes to other side but when water level goes down water on the road goes down but water on other side remains there. Some where road is also constructed below river level so water stuck there not coming down. We checked the water level it was slightly less then what we saw in morning.We returned back and went to masjid to have dinner. First we afraid whether we should go inside or not because we all were hindu and they were muslim. If some miss happened the outcome will be worst. We stood near the gate. One man came and told us just go inside food is available for all. We first felt reluctant to go inside. He told with smile just go don't think much first take food be safe then we will think who is allah and who is bhagwan. We gave a smile and went inside.What a hospitality, what a humanity. Like Kashmir, people are also kind and beautiful by nature.No matters who was muslim who was hindu who was poor and who was rich, all were on the road, all had same problem,all were on the same floor and all were taking food in the same thali.Thats the nature justice. All are equal in front of nature. We set in queue and had dinner togather. They were offering food as if we were there for wedding ceremony. So much respect. We had stomach full rice and dal there and came back.

TRIP TO HEAVEN TURNED INTO NIGHTMARE -- PART 4

Sept 9:
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What worst can happen, Everywhere water up to 2nd floor ,nowhere to move, No electricity, No network, People were stuck in flood water and not getting food. We were stuck there, unable to left that place.One good news today water level started decreasing.But truck buses were still under water.We got little bit of satisfaction that every thing will be fine within 2 days.We as usual started playing taash. It was noon 1:30 PM hotel owner didn't call us for lunch till then.Usually he calls around 11:30 AM. I went down and ask about lunch. He denied there were less water so unable to cook rice So today lunch cant be provided but dinner will be available. Now what to do we didn't had taken break fast also.We took those dry foods which we had purchased previously. We didn't took stomach full food because we need to keep it as backup for remaining days but somehow manage to overcome our hunger. Around 5 PM we went outside up to the hill to call our parents and to see the present status of flood. While trying for the network connection we saw some local people
carrying dead body and its family and relatives were crying like anything. Ohh god what the hell was happening there. People were started dying in front of us.How could we escape from that place.I almost started crying unable to bear all those things. I lost all hope to escape from that place and thought this could be my last few days in my life.I closed my eyes and started thinking all my relatives, mummy,papa,sister, my friends,my crushes from my childhood,my past love
all of them whom I needed in my life. Suddenly one local man standing near to us told that near governor house chopper is taking out tourist from here.It is just 2Km away from here. Everywhere is flooded so you need to go by hill.Just go there you will get help. We ran up to the hill with great hope towards governor house. We walk around 3Km but no governor house found. I asked one policeman nearby he told go straight. We follow the same path. After walking around 4Km Jyoti denied to walk extra path because climbing hill and coming down was not a easy task. Ajay and Jyoti stayed
back,Dipu and me went to the place where chopper rescuing the tourists. After walking around 6km we found the place. We saw around 9k to 10k people standing in the queue. Some were standing from past 2 days waiting for their turn. chopper first taking foreigners then VIPs then patients then families and at last bachelors. It seems impossible for us to go by chopper. At that time I understood the value of having family and money.I asked for help to one army standing near
by. I explained all our problems and requested to give some help.He told don't stand here. If you will stand in that queue, after 3 to 4 days you will get chance. Its better to stay back at your hotel room after 3 days water level will decrease then you can go by road. I completely broke down there, lost all hope. That was our last hope to escape from that place that too failed.We returned back to hotel room. Further we got news more than 150 dead bodies found from flood water. Ohh god what the day that was.We didn't play taash on that night. We took dinner and came back to room and
slept didn't even talk to each other.I have never seen such a worst day in my life neither I wish to see.

TRIP TO HEAVEN TURNED INTO NIGHTMARE -- PART 3

Sept 8:
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Rain was stopped, it was warm sunny day, we thought every thing will be fine with in 2 days but what happens to the nature.Why it was behaving so rudely to Kashmir.Flood water was just 300m away from our hotel.Water level in Dal lake was increased so much that there was no difference in lake side road and the Dal lake. Shikara now started moving directly moving from Lake to road without any hurdle. Flood water has been entered into 2nd floor of building. Bus, trucks which were standing at the road side on previous day now disappears. Situation was just shit on 3rd day of Srinagar. Local people who were safe were started rescuing who were affected by flood. Who thought water level would rose up to 2nd floor of the building.There were so much tension in Srinagar. Water was ice cool and people were inside the water without food. Ohh god I cant
explain all these. I tried calling my mummy but what happened. No network in mobile.At that time entire Kashmir was disconnected from rest of India. Some Local people come to us and said with warm smile " All your family ok?? Are they all safe ??. We said yes they are fine. We were here to visit Kashmir. Local man apologized ohh no you were here to see beauty of  Kahmir and what you have seen now one Kashmiri even didnt see in his life time.After sometime we returned to our hotel room and started playing taash. In 2 days I and Ajay played so well that this time Dipu made us captain. While playing some noise was coming from outside. As if chopper is coming from far away. I looked from our hotel room window, 3 to 4 choppers came to rescue Kashmiris. Thanks to central government for taking so quick decision. Some Indian army boat came to rescue who were stuck inside water. Choppers started to do the same and also drop food packets from air. We continue are taash after that. After some time hotel owner came to call us for lunch. He prepared rice and dal for us. We took lunch  and come back and continue our tash. The biggest problem at that time was there ere no mobile network. If we would not call our parent they will think we all are in trouble. We all came outside in the the search of network.There was a small hill just 200m away from our hotel. We all climbed to that hill with the hope of network. Ajay tried a lot to get network in his mobile and Jyoti had postpaid connection, he also tried a lot. From 5 PM to 7 PM we were standing there.
No network. We started loosing hope. Then we thought we should come back. While coming back Ajay stopped us and told I got network in my mobile. It was bit relief moment at that time. We all called one by one and said we all are safe and taking food timely and visiting nearby places. With the relief feeling we returned back to hotel room and conitnue our Taash. At night 8:30 PM hotel owner called us for dinner. We took dinner same rice and dal and came back and continue playing
taash. So day 3 in Srinagar also wasted by playing taash only.