The unwavering heroism of the armed forces has commissioned the rescue of nearly one lakh people in the state
While the rest of India sleeps, the night in the submerged city of Srinagar is interminably long. It is before first light that a group of soldiers boards trucks, determined to parlay every working hour into attempts to rescue stranded people, deliver food and water to others.
For about a 15-minute drive, the land is dry. And then the trucks must push their way in the grey fog through several treacherous feet of water, the swampy remnants of the floods that assaulted the city with eviscerating force.
Before dawn transitions to day, these men of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry battalion must load their boats onto the mass of water that the heart of Srinagar has turned into.
Each boat weighs nearly 190 kilos, demanding heavy lifting from 10 men. In Army lingo, these are BAUTS - Boat Assault Universal Type - meant for use in classic war. After the onslaught of the swollen River Jhelum on the city it flows through, they are solid, dependable lifelines in heavy rotation.
What makes the mission of this unit even more remarkable than the heroism of the armed forces that has led to nearly one lakh people being rescued in the state.
The unwavering heroism of the armed forces has commissioned the rescue of nearly one lakh people in the state. What makes this unit especially remarkable is that its members are all locals. This gives them an advantage over out-of-staters in maneuvering through Srinagar's clogged streets. But it also means most of them are working at a time when they are unsure of the fate of their own families, many of whom are in the worst-hit region of South Kashmir and cannot be contacted since phone networks have been knocked out.
"We have to save civilians... and we have to keep our own morale high. Jai Hind," says Vikram Singh, Commandant, J&K Light Infantry.
For some in the battalion, losing themselves in their work is the only way to cope. "I cannot bear to think of my family," says one, "the only focus is on doing my job...and doing it well."
After identifying the region they will devote the next few hours to, the men wade into the water, trousers rolled up to their knees and then head out on boats to neighbourhoods that remain off-limits for cars or air-dropped supplies from helicopters.
Women and children scramble to their windows as the boats approach. They shout out for milk, medicine, Maggi instant noodles and water. Men jump onto the narrow parapets of their now-submerged homes, reaching for food and supplies. An old man breaks down as he is handed a packet of relief material.
Houses located at corners are tough to reach. A group of residents, determined not be left out, has strung together plastic drums and containers. The raft that has been fashioned heads out to meet an army boat. Food is transferred and will be delivered to lanes too narrow for the army boats to enter.
The Army Commander says many of those evacuated in the morning often want to return in the evening, even if to an empty house. Some people say they are worried about squatters moving in. They prefer to wait in their homes for the army to arrive with essentials.
On the last stop the boat makes this morning, a small group of men clamour for a ride. They are pulled on board one at a time by the soldiers. Some want to buy medicines, others to check on the damage of the shops they own.
As the boat circles back to where it started, the soldiers come across a young woman crying because her family is missing. The battalion promises it will escort her straight away to the interiors so she can continue her search with their help.
The cheerful pledges of assistance and reassurance, an inexhaustible supply of initiative and courage - these are what mark the tens of journeys these men will make today. Many they rescue will not ask their names. Each is worth knowing. Like Bilal, father to a two-month-old child. With no contact with his wife for over a week, he has no idea whether the baby and she are safe. For now, he has a boat to get to work with.