Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 13: A month has passed since the devastating cloudburst tore through Choshiti village in Kishtwar district, but for Krishna Devi of Jammu, time has stood still. Her eyes remain fixed on the horizon, as if willing her missing son, daughter-in-law, and grandson to return. Clutching a faded photograph of the smiling trio—her only son Sahil Sharma, his wife Lovely, and their three-year-old child Raghav—she refuses to let go of hope.
The family from Digiana in Jammu city had embarked on a pilgrimage to Machail Mata, unaware that the journey meant to strengthen their spirit would instead shatter their world. On August 14, a sudden cloudburst struck, sweeping away homes, dreams, and lives in its merciless path. Since then, Sahil, 33, Lovely, 30, and little Raghav have been missing—lost somewhere in the unforgiving mountains.
For Krishna Devi, this tragedy is more than a misfortune—it’s an abyss of pain. The widow of the late Mohan Lal Sharma, she had only just begun rebuilding her life after her husband’s passing. Now, grief has returned with a vengeance. Her only son, the family's protector and the anchor for his four sisters, is nowhere to be found. Every morning she wakes with the faintest hope, only to face another day of uncertainty.
“I keep looking at the road,” she murmurs, eyes moist yet steady. “Maybe today they will come. Maybe Raghav will run to me again…” Her voice trails off as tears gather in the corners of her eyes. Her hands, frail and trembling, clutch the photograph with a desperate tenderness—a silent prayer stitched into the folds of time.
Neighbors describe Sahil as a devoted son who stepped up after his father’s untimely death. He had become the guiding light for the entire family, providing care, support, and love. Lovely, they say, was more than a daughter-in-law—she was a companion, a comfort, and the heartbeat of the household.
Raghav, barely old enough to understand the meaning of the word pilgrimage, had celebrated his third birthday not long ago. His laughter, once a source of joy, now echoes painfully in his grandmother’s memory. The innocence of his smile haunts the halls of the family’s home.
Despite the despair, search and rescue teams press on through treacherous terrain, battling the elements to recover the missing family. Though the chances of survival diminish with each passing day, authorities remain steadfast, knowing that for Krishna Devi, hope is the only thread keeping her from breaking.
The community has stood shoulder to shoulder with the grieving mother. Relatives, neighbors, and friends take turns sitting by her side, offering prayers, words of comfort, and quiet presence. In Digiana, where the Sharma family has deep roots, grief has transformed into solidarity—an unspoken promise that she will not face this sorrow alone.
For Krishna Devi, hope is both a refuge and a burden. It keeps her going, yet each passing day deepens the ache of absence. She clings to the belief that one day, the familiar faces in the photograph will once again light up her home. Until then, she waits—eyes searching the road, heart holding on to a fragile, unwavering prayer. |
