Srinagar, Jan 7: Much awaited snowfall, a few inches, in Srinagar was received with joy in our families yesterday, and jubilations on social networking sites. The traditional snow-celebration turned into a cause of worry by incompetent state departments in a couple of hours, for the first time since Kashmir records history of snow. The disaster management cell saw itself under 4-inches of snowfall, which melted in couple of hours.
The hi-tech government of 21st century could not maintain power supply for an hour, despite forecast directives and precautionary measures notices issued by the state disaster management cell on a daily basis for a week now.
The sudden flickering of power supply had family members rushing to power plug to charge their lifeline: mobile phones. Not all were lucky. One cell phone became a source of connection with outside world. Like Chief Minister Omar Abdullah we were not lucky enough to tweet or chat on Skype with our near and dear ones living outside the valley.
The heating gadgets like electric blankets turned into mats. Elders with chest problems braved gas heaters only to end up taking medicines for decongestion. Families decided to sleep in one room with wash room nearby. Carbon dioxide, which our body generates, became only source of heating system in a night with snow filled lawns and rooftops.
A relative admitted to a city hospital was no better off. Despite raging year-long debate around our water resources and its exploitation, the family members once again found themselves cursing their fate for born in a state with water-rich resources with no right for electricity.
After nightmarish experience of long dark night, the litany of inconvenience did not stop. The much-hyped drainage system are open across the city, killing animals like dogs everyday and injuring humans after sundown. The cesspool city had people starting life in the afternoon.
Mud, it seems, is permanent feature of our life when steel-like roads are hallmark of all other cities.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST