Rajouri, Sep 2: The night the Chenab roared into Akhnoor, it was not the sound of sirens but the splash of old tyre tubes hitting the water that broke the fear. In the dark, with roads washed away and rescue teams hours from arriving, a handful of young men tied their lives to rubber rings and plunged into the current.
One by one, they ferried the stranded Border Security Force jawans, families huddled on rooftops, and children crying for help. The river showed no mercy, but neither did they, returning again and again until every call for help grew silent.
In Garkhal too, the story repeated itself, not as headlines, but as heroism born out of instinct. Ten men, none in uniform, none with formal training, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Border Police, SDRF, and NDRF, turning the furious Chenab into their battleground.
Their tyre rafts became lifelines, carrying nearly 30 souls from the jaws of the flood. For two days, August 26 and 27, the youth of Akhnoor rewrote what courage looks like, not medals, not orders, just resolve and a river to cross.
With road connectivity snapped and the arrival of SDRF and NDRF delayed, around a dozen local youth, assisted by Incharge PP Pargwal Amit Singh, volunteered to step in.
Risking their own lives, these men used improvised tyre tubes to float across the gushing floodwaters. Their act of bravery saved several Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including one jawan near the International Border, a rescue now widely shared in a viral video.
Many stranded civilians were also ferried to safety in this operation.
A similar tale of grit came from Garkhal, where ten local men joined hands with teams from Border Police Post, SDRF, NDRF, BSF, Police and civil administration.
Together, they braved the waters with their tube rafts and rescued nearly 30 civilians along with BSF personnel trapped in the flood.
Across Pargwal and Garkhal, nearly 60 lives were saved over August 26 and 27.
Officials and locals alike hailed these young men for their fearless service, describing their actions as an "exemplary display of civilian bravery and solidarity" in times of disaster.
These unsung heroes, who wear no uniform and carry no official training, proved that courage does not always come with badges or ranks.
Armed with nothing but their determination and self-made rafts, they dived into the mighty Chenab, a river feared for its ferocity, to save precious human lives.
Residents of Akhnoor proudly recall how these youth risked everything for the safety of their community, embodying the true spirit of humanity.
Their names may not appear in official records, but their deeds have etched them as real-life saviours in the memories of those they rescued.