Umaisar Gull Ganie
Qazigund, Sep 10: With the closure of Srinagar–Jammu National Highway for nearly two weeks due to landslides in Udhampur and Ramban, a young man from Qazigund area of south Kashmir has become a symbol of hope for stranded passengers.
Mohammad Aasim Ganie, 23, a B.Com student from Checkiwangund village, has turned his tractor into a makeshift water tanker to provide free drinking water to truck drivers and other passengers stuck along the highway stretch between Nayvug Tunnel and Levdoora.
Aasim told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he distributes two to three tankers of water with 3,000 litres of capacity.
“I am doing this only for the sake of Allah. Our Islam teaches us to help one another,” Aasim said. “The highway gets blocked frequently in both summer and winter. Many drivers don’t even have running cash in such times. That is why we should come forward with Langars and water services, just like we are doing here in Qazigund.”
His initiative has earned widespread appreciation from drivers stranded for days. “This brother is giving us water, and we will never forget it. Locals here have always helped us. I have been coming to Kashmir for the last ten years, and the support of people here is unmatched,” said a truck driver.
Another driver called Aasim’s efforts ‘rare humanity.’ “He has been with us for nearly two weeks, serving us. Not everyone thinks like this at his age. He could have stayed home, but he chose to stand with us in our distress. He has made us feel proud,” he said—(KNO)
