Sat to Eat When Sirens Went Off Due to Pak Shelling: J&K Resident
Uri, a small town in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, was hit by intense shelling on Thursday night, leaving one woman dead and several others injured. The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, with residents still reeling from the trauma.
Among those who were directly affected by the shelling is 38-year-old Babar, who was sitting down to eat with his family when the sirens went off. “We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out. We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker,” Babar recounted, still shaken by the experience.
Babar’s house has a history of destruction. In 1999, it was destroyed during shelling, and later, in 2005, it was damaged by an earthquake. But nothing could have prepared him for the horror that unfolded on Thursday night.
As the shelling began, Babar’s family rushed to the neighbours’ bunker, joining several other families who had taken refuge there. The bunker, situated in a nearby building, was cramped and poorly ventilated, but it was the only safe place to be.
The shelling continued for hours, with the sound of explosions and gunfire filling the air. Babar’s family, like many others, was terrified, not knowing what was happening or when the shelling would stop.
“I was so scared, I didn’t know what to do. I just kept thinking about my family and how we would survive this,” Babar said, his voice trembling.
The shelling finally stopped around midnight, but the damage had already been done. One woman, a 50-year-old resident of Uri, was killed in the attack, and several others were injured.
Babar’s family was lucky to have escaped with their lives, but their home was not so fortunate. The shelling had destroyed several houses in the area, leaving many families without a roof over their heads.
As the sun rose on Friday morning, the people of Uri began to survey the damage. The streets were littered with debris, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and destruction.
Babar, like many others, was left to pick up the pieces. His house, which had been destroyed twice before, was now reduced to rubble. He was left with nothing, except the clothes on his back and the memories of the night that would haunt him for a long time.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of the people of Uri. The town has been affected by shelling several times in the past, but the intensity and frequency of the attacks have increased in recent years.
The government has promised to provide assistance to the affected families, but the people of Uri are still waiting for concrete action. They want the government to take concrete steps to ensure their safety and security, and to provide them with the necessary resources to rebuild their homes and their lives.
As the people of Uri struggle to come to terms with the trauma they have endured, they are also looking for answers. Why did the shelling happen? What is the government doing to prevent such incidents in the future?
Babar, like many others, has lost trust in the government. “We have been asking for help for years, but nothing seems to change. We just want to live in peace, without the fear of shelling and violence,” he said.
The incident in Uri is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. The two countries have been locked in a bitter dispute over Kashmir for decades, and the shelling in Uri is just the latest example of the violence and destruction that has become all too common in the region.
As the people of Uri try to rebuild their lives, they are also looking for a way to break the cycle of violence and hatred that has consumed their region. They want to live in peace, without the fear of shelling and violence, and they are willing to work towards that goal.
But for now, they are left to pick up the pieces, and to wonder when the sirens will go off again.
