Dear friends, One of the most delightful participants at the last two Goa Arts + Literature Festivals has been the elegant, outspoked Neerja Mattoo - writer, educator, and literary activist of Kashmir. She and her husband, the tough Mr. Mattoo never left the valley despite the lengthy times of troubles in the 80's and 90's, and are a neighborhood institution in their lovely old house in Gogji Bagh.
Please read this hair-raising account of their escape from flood-waters along with their son, the academic Amitabh Mattoo. It is scary to imagine what is happening in Srinagar and the rest of Kashmir to less-connected and lucky people. It really is an epic disaster. http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jammu-and-kashmir-floods-escape-from-an-inundated-valley/article6391904.ece VM