The tragedy in the wake of Kashmir floods is indeed heart-wrenching. But when I recollect the nightmares to which Kashmiri Pandits were subjected to as a consequence of the militancy in end 1980s and early 1990s, the effort makes me equally sad. It was a situation that was born out of political failures and administrative lapses over the years, which unfortunately even New Delhi failed to take note of despite clear warnings of impending trouble. It was a situation that the minority community of Kashmir had not anticipated even in its wildest dream. It was a situation where the governing apparatus seemed to be collaborating with subversive elements trained in arms warfare.
At Jammu or elsewhere, the inclement weather, the hot and humid climate with no cooling arrangements etc cut short many lives of the displaced Pandits in the prime of their life. There were snake bites. It was a tale of horror everywhere. Unfortunately, the displaced Pandits continue to live as refugees in their own country