When Srinagar Wakes to Water

Beautification projects light up the city, but clogged drains and vanishing wetlands leave homes under water.

- Iffat Aurooj

I woke to water creeping into my home. Veranda, chairs, even my fence were half-submerged. And this was after a rain that was supposed to be routine.

In Srinagar, the word “routine” doesn't mean safe anymore. The city that has been branded as “smart” loses its shape with the first shower.

Roads dissolve into brown ponds. Markets go under. Homes choke with water. Polo View, showcased as the jewel of the city's facelift, turns into a puddle faster than its celebrated image.

I have seen traders pump water out of shops they waited months to have renovated. In Safakadal, Nowhatta, and Rajouri Kadal, people don't even raise their voices now, They lift their furniture onto higher ground, as if this is the new normal.

We were told the smart city project would bring resilience. What we got instead were decorative tiles, hanging lights, and promises left unfinished. Somewhere, the most basic question was forgotten: where does the water go?