Security can wait but people cannot. When floods hit Srinagar, Raj Bhavan, the highly fortified office-cum residence of Jammu and Kashmir governor where president and prime minister stay during their Kashmir visit, opened its doors and hearts for the people in distress.
It is for the first time when Raj Bhavan gates were opened for the common people so that they could cross from one place to another to escape the flood fury. Even the helipad and the neighbourhood were used as the makeshift camps for the stranded people.
"We had to do it after all we can't ignore people. Governor was very kind to allow them," RK Gupta, principal secretary to Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, told dna.
Located on the Zabarwan hills, Raj Bhavan Srinagar overlooks the famous Dal Lake and neighbours Parimahal monument and the ancient Shankracharya Temple.
One of the highly secured places in the terror plagued Kashmir valley Raj Bhawan and its neighbourhood is guarded by large number of police and paramilitary soldiers round the clock throughout the year.
But when tragedy struck on September 7, Raj Bhavan showed its humane face and opened its gates so that the people stranded by the overflowing of the Dal Lake could reach to safer places using the premises as the road axis.
"Basically when Boulevard was flooded there was no way to go from Nishat side to other side. There was no option but to allow them (people) in the emergency situation," said Gupta.
What added another dimension to whole issue was Raj Bhavan's indomitable efforts to help around 8,000 people during the time of distress.
Raj Bhavan, where even proverbial eagles don't dare, allowed the people to stay at the Helipad and the nearby golf courses and temples and even provided them food and water.
"Nehru helipad, which is almost inside in the Raj Bhawan complex, was used for rescue and relief operation. There were 7000 to 8000 people waiting in queues for helicopter evacuation. They had come from all over the city. They had to be provided some relief and some help", he said.
Raj Bhawan also went out of the way by talking to state government to get relief material in terms biscuits, food and water for the people.
"We requested the state government to provide tents, which were pitched at nearby police golf course and Jeshta Mata Mandir. It was tough time but we managed to provide whatever we could," Gupta said.
Raj Bhawan efforts comes at a time when anger is mounting against the Omar Abdullah government for failing its people during the time of crisis. Around 300 people have died in the worst ever floods in the state which suffered financial losses worth Rs one lakh crore.
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