Anshu Gupta

A boat at the pavement right opposite to Dal Lake during 2014 Kashmir floods

Unexpected torrential rainfall in September 2014 led to disastrous floods across many districts of the Kashmir region. According to the Home Ministry of India, in Kashmir approximately 2600 villages across the state had been hit by floods and 390 villages had been completely submerged*.

What I find interesting is how the boats that were meant to be used only on the water catchment side of the lake have now, in the event of this disaster, replaced everything else and have become the only mode of transport for the people for the other side of the road. One of the biggest relief efforts for Goonj was done in the Dal Lake area, particularly in the small villages and water catchment areas inside the lake.

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