As the parts of valleys in Kashmir remain buried by the snow, the brave hearted people of Kashmir with the undeterred strength of their Police Force working day and night to save and support their communities is a testament that no matter how severe the climate, humanity will always prevail.
In many areas across Kashmir, heavy snowfall has caused roadblocks, electrical outages and has isolated individuals from their neighbourhoods. It has brought life in these areas to an absolute standstill.
Yet, throughout this storm, we have all seen many heroic actions that must be recognized and appreciated.
What would be an ordinary citizen, by the sheer force of their local community, they all have acted like heroes. From young volunteers who have chosen to go out and help shovel pathways to the older citizens who can’t do this on their own, to local businesses offering shelter for others, humans show there is no greater resource than the community.
We must also thank the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and their respective disaster response services.
Their work has been heroic.
They have been visible working 24 hours a day to keep stranded drivers safe; many of these officers have put themselves at risk in the pursuit of service at the highest degree.
This combination between citizens and law-enforcement agencies represents the real tale behind the recent blizzard.
It tells the tale of residents providing assistance to rescue crews navigating their area through alternate routes, families sharing sub-zero accommodations with total strangers, routine use of social-media platforms not as an outlet for complaining about government services, but instead using these platforms for collaboration to connect those in need with those able to assist.
Historically speaking when we look back at the winters of Kashmir, this will be seen not simply as a “snowy” period, rather it will also represent a time where pure kindness flourished between individuals.
May the memory of this type of cooperation last even after the snow has melted, and may we carry the spirit of goodwill through better days ahead.
