At a time when people in the Valley are fighting pitched battles with security forces, for 18-year-old Wahid, a victim of the deadly cloudburst, the army was god sent.
Lying at the army hospital here with cervical vertebrae fracture, Wahid, a vegetable vendor from Budgam in Kashmir, said, "I was sleeping in my shop with two others when the water suddenly gushed in. I was swept away for over a kilometre before I could grab a window bar and hold on to it."
Wahid says one of his friend was washed away while another was rescued and now has been sent back to Srinagar.
The youngster was finally saved by the army personnel and brought to the hospital.
Timely treatment meant that his fracture, which could also have resulted in complete paralysis, was taken care of.
"The army has been extremely nice. I am being looked after properly here. Had it not being for them, I would have been one among the many killed," he said adding "I am thankful to the army. The men were god sent," the youth said.
Asked about the opposition of the people against the security forces in the Valley, he said, "I came here to earn my living and I am alive now because of them and that is all I know."
