Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district witnessed intense shelling by Pakistan on Thursday night, resulting in the death of one woman and injuring several others. The incident has left the residents of the area shaken and traumatized. In this blog post, we will share the harrowing account of a resident who survived the shelling and witnessed the destruction firsthand.
38-year-old Babar, a resident of Uri, was sitting down to eat with his family when the siren went off, signaling the start of the shelling. “We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out…We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker,” Babar said in an interview with the Indian Express.
According to Babar, his house has been destroyed twice in the past. The first time was in 1999 when Pakistan shelling damaged his home, and the second time was during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. The recent shelling has left him feeling helpless and frustrated.
Babar’s account is a testament to the trauma and fear that the residents of Uri have been facing for years. The shelling, which started around 9:30 pm, lasted for several hours, with the Pakistani army firing over 100 rounds of mortar shells. The Indian army retaliated with equal force, but the damage was already done.
The woman who lost her life in the shelling was identified as 35-year-old Shabnum Parveen. She was hit by a mortar shell while she was in her house. Several others were injured, including a 12-year-old boy who suffered severe injuries to his leg.
The shelling has left the residents of Uri in a state of panic, with many of them fleeing their homes to safer areas. The local administration has set up relief camps for those who have been affected by the shelling, but the trauma runs deep.
Babar’s family, including his wife and three children, were among those who were forced to flee their home. They took shelter in a nearby bunker, where they spent the night, waiting for the shelling to stop. “We were petrified. We didn’t know what was happening or when it would stop,” Babar said.
The Indian Express spoke to several other residents of Uri who shared similar accounts of the shelling. Many of them spoke of the fear and uncertainty that gripped the area during the shelling. “I was so scared that I didn’t even think about my valuables or my belongings. All I could think about was getting my family to safety,” said Rashid Ahmad, a resident of Uri.
The shelling has also disrupted the daily lives of the residents of Uri. Many of them have been forced to abandon their daily routines and take shelter in safer areas. The local markets and businesses have been affected, with many of them forced to close down temporarily.
The Uri sector has been a hotspot for tensions between India and Pakistan for several years. The recent shelling is just the latest in a series of incidents that have threatened to destabilize the region.
In light of the recent shelling, it is imperative that the government takes concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of the residents of Uri and other areas along the LoC. The shelling has not only caused physical damage but also emotional trauma, which can take a long time to heal.
As the situation unfolds, it is crucial that the government provides adequate compensation to those who have been affected by the shelling. The residents of Uri deserve justice and compensation for the losses they have suffered.
In conclusion, the shelling in Uri is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. The residents of Uri have been living in fear for years, and it is time that the government takes concrete steps to ensure their safety and security.
