Srinagar, June 20 -- But follow the sound of laughter down a lane, and you'll find a different kind of summer story.

At the edge of an old canal or beneath a narrow footbridge, boys are gathered - bare feet, tanned shoulders, grins wide.

One climbs a stone wall. Another counts down. Then, without hesitation, he jumps. A clean arc through the air, and then the splash, loud and full of life.

Across the Valley, where the sun shows no signs of slowing, these swimming spots have become unlikely sanctuaries.

The boys don't seem to mind the muddy water or the rough edges. They swim hard, shout louder, and stay until the shadows stretch long.

In a summer marked by record heat and dry spells, these carefree dives offer a small, steady reminde...