Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir floods have triggered the emotions and memories of many people including those who left the valley during the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
Dr Rajkumar Karwani, an Indigo Airlines doctor, left Kashmir nearly 25 years ago. When NDTV met him on Srinagar to Delhi flight that was carrying mostly evacuated people, he said he volunteered to help because the floods were a call for duty for him.
"I left so many years ago. But when I heard about what was happening, I volunteered to go back as they need doctors at the airport...I felt I must serve Kashmir," he said. He didn't step out of the airport but said he felt emotional and overwhelmed about his return under such tragic circumstances.
30 Indigo Airlines staff members from flood-ravaged Srinagar are untraceable. The airline has therefore deputed its Delhi staff who fly in daily to help out. They return back by the last flight since hotel rooms are scarce in Srinagar. The airline is giving free food to all passengers on this sector; majority of traveler are migrants fleeing due to floods.
When we asked Dr Karwani if he went back to his old home, he said, "No, I didn't but I will revisit with my parents one day." Till then he plans to commute to Srinagar daily, tending to those who need him on the plane or at the airport.