Bilal Bhat
Srinagar, August 31: In a remarkable display of solidarity, a Delhi-based relief team spent two weeks in Jammu and Kashmir’s flood-affected regions, carrying out rescue operations and distributing essential supplies to distressed families.
The team, led by Naeem Choudhry and Naved Choudhry, along with Dr. Akbar, Dr. Asif, Imran Hussain, Islam Khan, Tahir Gani, and Sagir Zargar, worked under the banner of Sagir Tariq Memorial Foundation and National Aid Team, with vital support from the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Relief camps were organized in Bagra, Patiyari, Shalimar Kishtwar, and Chishooti Paddar, where affected families received food, medical care, and ration supplies. In one significant instance, the team rescued a stranded family near a mountain stream in Shalimar, earning widespread appreciation from locals.
For ten days, the group tirelessly conducted medical check-ups, distributed medicines, and provided ration kits to families left vulnerable by the disaster. Local leaders, including Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, former minister; Mahraj Malik, MLA Doda; and Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, extended their full cooperation to ensure smooth operations.
Expressing gratitude, Naeem Choudhry said: “Our mission in Kishtwar would not have been possible without the support of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. From providing security to guiding us in remote areas, they stood with us like a shield. In times of calamity, the real strength of a place is seen in how people and institutions come together. We witnessed that spirit in J&K.”
He added that the overwhelming response from villagers was deeply moving. “When we handed over food and medicines, we saw tears in people’s eyes. It reminded us that even small efforts can make a huge difference in the lives of those who have lost everything.”
This intervention comes against the backdrop of recent floods that wreaked havoc across several districts of Jammu and Kashmir, causing widespread damage to houses, agricultural land, and road connectivity. Flash floods and landslides left dozens of villages marooned, with families forced to survive without basic amenities for days. In Kishtwar and adjoining areas, the floods washed away bridges and cut off access to healthcare, leaving people particularly vulnerable until civil society and aid groups stepped in.
The Delhi team’s work brought much-needed relief to hundreds of families in these remote villages, demonstrating how timely humanitarian action and cooperation between civil society and local authorities can help communities endure the worst of natural disasters.
