The snow clearance work on the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway is not an easy job. Involving risk and danger, the task requires the highest level of courage, skill and physical and mental strength.
But, 45 year old Anayatullah who works as a dozer driverwith the Beacon for last several years has never let his physical handicapovercome his determination to do this job.
Anayatullah, born deaf and dumb, is the one who leads thesnow clearance work operation whatever the conditions are.
There is no alignment or signs of the road visible becauseof the heavy snow and avalanches. The road is completely buried under snow andthe alignment is fully covered under it.
However, Anayatullah drives the dozer, cuts the snow andmakes the alignment.
One of his colleagues told Greater Kashmir, “He(Inayatullah nicknamed as Tulla) neither can hear nor speak, but he is the onewho with his dozer leads from the front during snow clearance work on theSrinagar-Leh highway every year”.
Captain Shubham Sood of BRO who was part of the team on snowclearance work this year, said that Tulla is very much important part of theteam.
“He is dedicated and extraordinary with skills,”Sood told Greater Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen J S Dhillon who was thechief guest on the inaugural function of road reopening at Zojila introducedInayatullah to the media and complimented him for his extraordinary skills andwork.
“In spite of being deaf and dumb, this man has doneextraordinary work on the road clearance,” he said, adding that he wouldrecommend him for an appreciation and recognition at the higher level.
“If we are here at Zojila and the road is open it isbecause of this man (Tullah) who has a huge role in it. He is a hardworking andan abled man,” he added.