SRINAGAR: Crises bring out the best and worst in us. In Srinagar, cops and undertrials shared unusual bonding in the worst days of Jhelum floods. Between September 7 and 11, when nearly all police stations were submerged, inmates at Shaheed Gunj police lock-up spent four days on the rooftop with cops. Not just that. A short distance from the police station lives Fayaz, a notorious criminal feared for his frequent run-ins with the police. However, a police officer said Fayaz, not bothering about his safety, jumped into the raging waters several times to save lives of policemen.
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A thief who had eluded the police until the floods, joined them during those five days to help rescue a family stuck on the top of a building. "While we were wondering how to reach the top, he showed us his trick of hammering in long nails into the wooden facade of the building and climbing up with ropes to reach the top from where he got the family out," said a policeman who did not wish to be named.
The Jhelum, that wrecked NH and submerged Pampore in South Srinagar, reached Srinagar on Sunday morning. By the evening, it had submerged Sadar police station and moved north to police stations in Jawahar Nagar, Bemina, Rajbagh, Batamaloo. Police stations in Rajbagh and Karan Nagar, two stories high, were totally submerged.
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According to police officer, out of 35 police stations and posts at one stage, only one, at Harwan, was functional. "There was no electricity. Our own generators were washed out by water, along with our arms and records. We had no boats or lifebuoys and no training in swimming. Mobile communication was down and our wireless sets got discharged one by one. We didn't even have torches. Some staff said they'd rather die of bullets than end like rats in overflowing gutters," said one cop.
Of Srinagar's 6,000 policemen only about 10 were in touch with each other. "Only 10 wireless sets were working, one of which was with the CM," said another officer.
A view of partially submerged Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. (PTI photo)
A youth, who till recently was in police crosshairs, joined the department to get people out. An officer said that in the course of rescue operations in Batamaloo with the man, he realized he was working with someone he had charged under public safety Act.
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"We had recovered grenades from this man and sent him to prison. When we realized each other's identity, he invited me to his home and we had tea. I don't know when, and in what circumstances, will I meet these elements again, but I hope those will be better times," the officer said.
READ ALSO: Rulers of paradise' fight over medicines, baby food
A thief who had eluded the police until the floods, joined them during those five days to help rescue a family stuck on the top of a building. "While we were wondering how to reach the top, he showed us his trick of hammering in long nails into the wooden facade of the building and climbing up with ropes to reach the top from where he got the family out," said a policeman who did not wish to be named.
The Jhelum, that wrecked NH and submerged Pampore in South Srinagar, reached Srinagar on Sunday morning. By the evening, it had submerged Sadar police station and moved north to police stations in Jawahar Nagar, Bemina, Rajbagh, Batamaloo. Police stations in Rajbagh and Karan Nagar, two stories high, were totally submerged.
READ ALSO: 'Boatman charged Rs 1.5L to ferry flood victims to safety'
According to police officer, out of 35 police stations and posts at one stage, only one, at Harwan, was functional. "There was no electricity. Our own generators were washed out by water, along with our arms and records. We had no boats or lifebuoys and no training in swimming. Mobile communication was down and our wireless sets got discharged one by one. We didn't even have torches. Some staff said they'd rather die of bullets than end like rats in overflowing gutters," said one cop.
Of Srinagar's 6,000 policemen only about 10 were in touch with each other. "Only 10 wireless sets were working, one of which was with the CM," said another officer.
A view of partially submerged Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. (PTI photo)
A youth, who till recently was in police crosshairs, joined the department to get people out. An officer said that in the course of rescue operations in Batamaloo with the man, he realized he was working with someone he had charged under public safety Act.
READ ALSO: 70 Army installations hit by J&K floods, LoC posts relocated
"We had recovered grenades from this man and sent him to prison. When we realized each other's identity, he invited me to his home and we had tea. I don't know when, and in what circumstances, will I meet these elements again, but I hope those will be better times," the officer said.
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