Pattan, April 19, 2025: Sahil Hamid Mir, a 17-year-old from Darvesh Bagh, Pattan, is running a remarkable solo marathon from Jammu to Baramulla, covering over 250 kilometers, to champion a vital cause: Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life. The young student, trained at the Chinar YUVA Centre in Baramulla, began his journey on April 17, 2025, at 7:00 AM, aiming to raise awareness about the growing drug addiction crisis gripping Kashmir’s youth.
Sahil’s marathon is a selfless mission to inspire his peers and combat a drug menace affecting an estimated six lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir, with 90% of users aged 17–33. As a student at the Chinar YUVA Centre, a hub for youth empowerment, Sahil embodies resilience and hope, using his run to show that young people can overcome challenges and drive change. “This is for every youth in Kashmir, to prove they can choose a better path,” Sahil said, according to a statement from his training center.
The grueling route, winding through cities and valleys, has drawn widespread support, with communities cheering Sahil’s message of hope. His run aligns with regional efforts like the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force, which arrested over 1,232 drug peddlers in 2021–2022, and the ‘Drug-Free J&K’ campaign led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, targeting narco-terrorism. Sahil’s effort adds a powerful youth-led voice to this fight.
Kashmir’s drug crisis, exacerbated by its proximity to the Golden Crescent opium region, has seen a sharp rise in addiction, with a 2022 study from Government Medical College Srinagar noting that the Valley has overtaken Punjab in per capita narcotics use. Heroin addiction cases surged from 3,850 in 2019 to 13,200 in 2021, making Sahil’s marathon a timely call to action.
Residents along the route have rallied behind Sahil, offering water, food, and encouragement. “His determination is a wake-up call for us all,” said Rafiqa Begum, a Baramulla local. The Chinar YUVA Centre praised Sahil’s “unwavering spirit,” calling his run a testament to the power of Kashmir’s youth.
As Sahil approaches Baramulla, his marathon stands as a beacon of hope, urging young people to reject drugs and embrace life’s potential. The community awaits his arrival, ready to honour a teenager whose courage is lighting the way for a drug-free, vibrant Kashmir.