Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The Uri region in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, was hit by Pakistan’s shelling on Thursday night, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life. One woman was killed, and several others were injured in the intense shelling that rocked the area. For the residents of Uri, it was a night of sudden chaos and fear as they were caught off guard by the sudden burst of artillery fire.
Among those who lived through the terrifying experience was 38-year-old Babar, who recounted the events of that fateful night. “We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out. We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker,” he said, still shaken by the events.
Babar’s account is a testament to the unpredictability of life in Jammu and Kashmir, where the threat of violence and shelling is ever-present. His family had only just sat down to eat when the sirens went off, warning of an impending attack. With no time to waste, they dropped everything and made a dash for the nearest bunker, hoping to escape the wrath of the shelling.
For Babar, the experience was all too familiar. His house had been destroyed twice before, once in 1999 due to shelling, and again during the 2005 earthquake. The trauma of those events still lingers, and the recent shelling has only added to his sense of unease.
The shelling in Uri was not just a one-off incident. It was part of a larger pattern of violence that has been escalating in the region over the past few years. Pakistan has been accused of deliberately targeting civilian areas, including residential neighborhoods and markets, in an effort to create fear and instability.
The people of Uri, and indeed the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, have been paying the price for this senseless violence. The region has seen a surge in militant attacks, and the shelling has left many innocent civilians injured and displaced.
But despite the trauma and hardship, the people of Uri remain resilient. They have been through so much, and yet they continue to persevere, refusing to let the violence and fear drive them out of their homes.
Babar’s story is a testament to this resilience. Despite having lost his home twice before, he is determined to rebuild and start anew. “I will rebuild my house, and I will live here,” he said, his voice filled with determination.
As the people of Uri begin the process of rebuilding and recovery, they are left to wonder when the violence will end. When will the shelling cease, and the sirens stop ringing out? Until then, they will continue to live in fear, always on edge, waiting for the next attack.
The Uri shelling is a stark reminder of the fragility of life in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a region that has been plagued by conflict for decades, and yet the people remain steadfast in their commitment to their homeland.
As the world looks on, it is time to take notice of the suffering of the people of Uri and Jammu and Kashmir. It is time to demand an end to the violence, and to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
