For outstation students coming to join NIT Srinagar for the current session, world famous Dal lake is acting as ‘last bridge’ and at the same time protecting them from the stone pelting brigade out on the streets in different parts of Kashmir valley.
On Wednesday when a group of students from Jammu landed in Kashmir via early morning flight they had to struggle a lot before reaching their campus for completing admission formalities. The local taxi operators were not ready to visit NIT campus near Hazratbal Shrine and dropped them near Dal lake due to prevailing law and order situation.
Neither the State Governmentt nor the NIT authorities had made special arrangements for students to be ferried safely to the NIT campus from the airport. Stranded mid way, the students were confused when another taxi driver advised the group to take a Shikara ride to Hazratbal Shrine, located close to the NIT campus to reach there safely. Finally, a local ‘shikara’ owner dropped them at the shrine. In the absence of tourists in the valley the shikara ride prove to be a boon for both the students.
Nervous students sat in the Shikara holding each others hands and after almost one hour long journey through the vegetated Dal lake they finally found themselves infront of their 'alma matter' for next four years.
Speaking to The Pioneer over telephone the students shared their nightmare of travelling through the deserted streets with wall graffiti and slogans eulogising HM Commander Burhan Wani in every nook and corner.
"I had seen Kashmir valley as a tourist but when i arrived here today it looked a different city. I felt as if i am suddenly transported in to a war zone where concertina wires and heavy presence of security forces was visible at vantage locations to contain the angry protesters on the streets". Their hour long journey through the back waters of Dal lake was full of adventure as they crisscrossed through narrow lanes and rickety house boats. The Shikara owner too confirmed the situation on the road was bad as sporadic incidents of violence was reported in the area between TRC complex and NIT campus.
Once inside the campus the students heaved a sigh of relief and completed their admission formalities. Around 120 students have so far reported in the campus for the current session. The last date of reporting in the campus is August 8.