Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The border town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district faced a night of intense shelling by Pakistan on Thursday night, leaving one woman dead and several others injured. The incident has left the residents of Uri shaken, with many recalling the chaos and fear that gripped the town during the attack.
Among those who experienced the horror firsthand was 38-year-old Babar, who was sitting down to eat with his family when the sirens suddenly went off. “We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out. We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker,” Babar said, still trying to process the traumatic events of the previous night.
The attack began around 10:30 pm, with Pakistani troops firing mortars and rockets towards the Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC). The shelling lasted for several hours, with the Indians retaliating with equal ferocity. The intense exchange of fire caused widespread damage to properties and infrastructure in the town, leaving many residents without homes or basic amenities.
Babar’s own house was not spared from the destruction. In fact, he claimed that his house had been destroyed twice before – once in 1999 during heavy shelling, and later in 2005 during an earthquake. “I have seen so many attacks, but this one was different. The intensity of the shelling was like nothing I have ever seen before,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
The 38-year-old resident of Uri has lived through many difficult times, but the recent attack has left him feeling demoralized and frustrated. “We are not even safe in our own homes. We are always on edge, waiting for the next attack. It’s like living in a war zone,” he lamented.
The Uri attack is the latest in a series of incidents along the LoC, which has seen a significant increase in violence in recent months. The Indian Army has been responding strongly to Pakistani aggression, with several instances of cross-border firing and shelling reported in the past few weeks.
The Uri attack has also raised concerns about the safety and security of civilians in the region. Many residents, including Babar, have been forced to take shelter in underground bunkers or abandoned buildings to avoid the shelling. “We have to live in fear of the next attack. We can’t even sleep peacefully at night,” he said, his voice heavy with despair.
Despite the challenges and dangers, the residents of Uri remain resilient and determined to rebuild their lives. “We will not be deterred by the attacks. We will continue to live here, no matter what,” Babar said, his eyes flashing with defiance.
The Uri attack is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions along the LoC and the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The incident also highlights the human cost of war, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire and forced to live in fear of the next attack.
As the residents of Uri work to rebuild their lives and their homes, they are left to wonder when the violence will end and peace will return to their troubled region. Until then, they will continue to live in the shadow of the LoC, always ready to respond to the sound of sirens and the whizzing of bullets.
