SRINAGAR, Sept. 30 -- Manzoor Ahmad (name changed) tried to put up a brave face when he started having symptoms of a heart ailment. One fine day, his chest pain became so unbearable that he was rushed to the hospital. After a detailed examination, doctors diagnosed him with endocarditis, a rare heart infection among drug addicts.

"He had relapsed many times. As a result, he developed a heart infection. This disease was rare in Kashmir a few years ago. Now, endocarditis is spreading fast among the young addicts," said a doctor treating Manzoor.

Manzoor is not an isolated case. Youngsters are increasingly having heart attacks in Kashmir. Drug abuse has only complicated the problem in the valley.

"Drug abuse has created an alarming situat...