Water retreats from Lal Chowk, leaves a trail of destruction

Flood water may have receded from Lal Chowk and its surrounding areas but it will be a long drawn process before business activities in the Kashmir's commercial hub return to normal.
The flood has left behind a trail of destruction as muddied branded clothes, electronic goods, watches, and handicrafts are lying unclaimed on the roads of the Kashmir's commercial hub.
These goods have been probably damaged beyond repair due to the century's worst-ever flood in Kashmir.
Nisar Ahmad Wani, who owns a shop in the upmarket Lambert Lane on Residency Road here, and several other shopkeepers nearby are busy clearing the mess created by the floods, including the expensive merchandise now worth a zilch, so that they can make a fresh start.

"We are thankful to the God for sparing our lives. Business-wise, all the goods have turned into trash and worth nothing now," Wani said.
In fact, the businessmen are keen to hasten the cleaning operations as rotting merchandise can become a liability if left inside the shops.
"We thought the government will give priority in removing the garbage from Lal Chowk and surrounding areas as this is the nerve centre of business activities, but I think we have to do it on our own as now foul smell is coming from inside the shops," Mudasir Ahmad, another shopkeeper, said.