Students in Zainapora Shopian brave floodwaters to save college library

September 3, 2025 by News Desk

Meer Irfan

Students at a government degree college in Zainapora, Shopian, found themselves battling floodwaters on Wednesday afternoon as heavy rains pushed local streams and rivers beyond the danger mark.

Around three in the afternoon, word spread across the campus that water had entered the premises. Within minutes, students rushed toward the ground floor where the college library is located, fearing that the rising waters could destroy what many described as the most valuable part of their institution.

The students told The Kashmiriyat that the sight was overwhelming. The courtyard was filling up quickly, rainwater mixed with floodwaters was gushing through the gates, and the ground-floor rooms were beginning to flood.

The library, which stores thousands of books, including rare reference texts and notes preserved by earlier batches, became their immediate priority.

“We knew the library was the most vulnerable. It is more than just a room with books. It is the heartbeat of the college. Many of us depend on those books for exams, for research, and even for competitive tests. Some volumes are difficult to find outside, and losing them would have meant losing years of hard work that has been passed on from one batch to another,” said Arif, a final year student who was among those who rushed inside despite the rising water.

What followed, the students said, felt like a race against time. With the water creeping into the corridors and reaching the doors of the library, groups of students formed makeshift chains, passing stacks of books to one another to move them to safer places.

Some climbed on tables and shelves, lifting books to the higher racks, while others carried piles in their arms to classrooms on the first floor. The floor was slippery, the water was cold, and the downpour outside made it even harder to move, but the urgency pushed them on.

“It was like a rescue operation,” said Sameer, another student. “We were soaked from head to toe. Some of us stood in ankle-deep water, holding books above our heads so they would not get wet. The water kept pushing in, but no one gave up. We were shouting instructions to one another, pulling out drawers, shifting chairs, and making space to keep the books safe. In that moment, all of us felt we were protecting something sacred.”

By the evening, the students had managed to move a large portion of the collection to safety, though many remained concerned about damage to the furniture and other facilities in the building.

Meanwhile, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department reported at 5 p.m. that the Jhelum had crossed the danger mark at several points. At Sangam the water level was recorded at 26.94 feet, well above the danger mark of 25 feet. At Pampore the level stood at 5.99 meters, while at Munshibagh it touched 20.06 feet. At Asham the level was 10.06 feet, and at Wullar, the water was measured at 1576.54 meters, slightly below the danger mark. Tributaries too showed alarming levels, with Vishow Nallah at Khudwani flowing at 10.95 meters. The Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi was measured at 5.00 meters, Lidder Nallah at Batkoot at 1.46 meters, and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama at 3.78 meters.

The department said the situation was being closely monitored as more rains were expected through the night.