New Delhi: When floodwaters entered cricketer Parveez Rasool's residence in Bijbehara in Kashmir's Anantnag district 10 days back, his first reaction was to drag his two cricket kit bags upstairs to the first floor. But little did Rasool know what would follow.
"For the last 11 days, I was literally cut off from the society as none of the telephones or cell-phones were working. There was no internet connection. It was a helpless situation for me and my family. We were staying on the first floor as the ground floor was filled with flood water. I would like to inform all my friends and relatives that we are safe," the 25-year-old captain of the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji team, who made his debut in One-Day Internationals (ODI) this year, told PTI.
Read: J&K floods: A week on, 150,000 still stranded, Army steps up rescue operations
"I am able to take this call as I am getting a mobile signal some 2 kilometres from my residence. I came to know that there were rumours that there was no trace of me and my family due to the floods. That's wrong. Yes, the situation was terrible but it's better in Anantnag right now. I am planning to come to Srinagar within the next two days. I haven't been able to contact my Jammu and Kashmir Ranji teammates," Rasool added.
Recounting the ordeal as water gushed into his home, Rasool said, "The worst part was one of my favourite bats was left in my car along with a costly backpack. The car was totally under water and my mother was against me going downstairs. I still went there, neck-deep in water and got them back," he said.
The cricketer said he later joined in relief work being carried out by an NGO, which had helped his family when they were stranded.
"By the grace of God, I have access to facilities which a lot of poor people don't have. I only hope that by next week, things change for the better as the people from the economically backward strata are the ones who have been suffering a lot. You are pained by their plight," said the young cricketer who is now eagerly looking forward to get back to the game.
"It's never happened that I have missed training for two weeks. I have to get back," he said.
Read: Jammu and Kashmir floods: 40 Andhra Pradesh students rescued
