Indian Air Force

Living and working at the Humama station in Srinagar is definitely different from the plains. We are located right near the airport at SMQ A-5-4. You can hear the planes taking off and landing pretty clearly from our desks. It’s a bit cold for a good chunk of the year, so we usually have heaters running or we are bundled up in sweaters. The view of the mountains is nice when the clouds clear up, but mostly we are focused on the work inside. This isn’t a fancy corporate office; it’s more of a functional space for the Indian Air Force team here. We have some older furniture and the walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but it works for us. Security is a big thing around here, as you would expect being near the airfield. There’s a certain rhythm to the day with the various checks and shifts. We drink a lot of tea to stay warm. Sometimes the internet is a bit slow because of the weather or other local issues, but we manage. Most of the folks working here have been stationed in different places, so there is always a story to hear during lunch. We keep things simple and try to stay on top of the paperwork that keeps this place moving. It’s an honest day’s work in a beautiful, if somewhat chilly, part of the country where we just keep things going.