Srinagar, May 12 -- By Mohammad Anamul Haque Ahanger

A cold mist drifted over Dal Lake one November afternoon as an elderly couple walked slowly along Srinagar's boulevard carrying the last belongings rescued from their sinking houseboat.

The woman gripped a plastic bag holding a samovar and a folded prayer mat. Water dripped from the hem of the man's wool pheran. Several meters behind them, their wooden houseboat leaned heavily into the lake, its carved balcony submerged beneath dark green water.

"Son, can you make a phone call on this number?" the man asked, handing over a creased piece of paper.

His voice weakened during the call. "Please tell our son the boat has failed," he said.

The talk ended within moments. The couple settled...