Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has witnessed a chaotic night after a series of intense shelling by Pakistan on Thursday. The shelling left one woman dead and several others injured. Amidst the chaos, a 38-year-old resident, Babar, shared his harrowing experience of being forced to abandon his meal and rush to a neighbour’s bunker for safety.
“We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out,” Babar recalled. “We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker.” The siren, a warning system to alert residents of an impending attack, is a common feature in Uri, which has been a frequent target of shelling by Pakistan.
Babar’s account is a testament to the trauma and fear that the residents of Uri have been living with for years. His house has been destroyed twice in the past, once in 1999 due to shelling and again in 2005 due to an earthquake. The recent shelling has left his family and many others in the town shaken and worried about their future.
The Uri town, which is located on the Line of Control (LoC), has been a flashpoint in the decades-long conflict between India and Pakistan. The town has witnessed several instances of shelling, firing, and violence over the years, resulting in loss of life and property.
The latest incident of shelling occurred on Thursday night, when Pakistani forces launched a series of attacks on Indian positions in Uri. The Indian Army retaliated with equal force, engaging Pakistani troops in a fierce battle that lasted for several hours.
The shelling caused widespread damage to properties in the town, with many houses and buildings receiving direct hits. The residents of Uri were forced to spend the night in bunkers and other safe zones, waiting for the shelling to stop.
Babar’s account of the incident highlights the trauma and fear that the residents of Uri have been living with for years. “We have been living with the threat of shelling for so long that we have become used to it,” he said. “But it’s still terrifying to hear the siren go off and rush to the bunker with our children.”
The Uri town has been a frequent target of shelling by Pakistan due to its proximity to the LoC. The town has a significant population of defence personnel and their families, who are vulnerable to the shelling.
The recent incident of shelling has raised concerns about the safety and security of the residents of Uri. The town has been in the news in recent years due to several instances of shelling and violence, which have resulted in loss of life and property.
The Indian government has repeatedly condemned the shelling by Pakistan and has taken steps to improve the security and safety of the residents of Uri. The government has also provided financial assistance to those affected by the shelling and has taken steps to rebuild damaged properties.
Despite the challenges and risks, the residents of Uri continue to live with the threat of shelling, hoping that one day the conflict between India and Pakistan will end and they can live in peace.
