Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district faced a horrific night on Thursday, with Pakistan shelling killing one woman and injuring several others. The residents of the area are no strangers to the sounds of gunfire and explosions, but even they were jolted out of their routine when the sirens went off, sending them running for cover.
38-year-old Babar, a resident of Uri, shared his harrowing experience with the Indian Express. “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 of the night.
Babar’s family has had to deal with the trauma of shelling before. His house was destroyed twice in the past – first by shelling in 1999 and later by an earthquake. The memories of those incidents were still fresh in his mind as he huddled with his family in the bunker, waiting for the shelling to cease.
The Uri sector has been a frequent target of Pakistani shelling in recent times. The area is close to the Line of Control (LoC), which separates India and Pakistan in Kashmir. The Pakistani military has been accused of violating the ceasefire multiple times, causing significant damage to properties and disrupting the lives of local residents.
The recent shelling incident on Thursday night was particularly intense, with reports suggesting that over 100 shells were fired by Pakistani troops. The Indian Army retaliated with equal force, claiming to have destroyed several Pakistani posts.
The residents of Uri are no strangers to the sounds of shelling, but even they were caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack. Babar’s family was just settling down for dinner when the sirens went off, sending them scrambling for safety.
“We were eating dinner when suddenly the siren went off. We quickly gathered our belongings and ran to the neighbour’s bunker,” Babar said, describing the chaos that ensued. “We didn’t know what was happening or where the shells were coming from. We just knew we had to get out of there as fast as possible.”
The family’s bunker, located in a nearby house, was their only refuge from the shelling. They huddled together, listening to the sounds of explosions and gunfire, praying that the shelling would stop soon.
The night was marked by intense shelling, with reports suggesting that over 100 shells were fired by Pakistani troops. The Indian Army retaliated with equal force, claiming to have destroyed several Pakistani posts.
The shelling finally subsided in the early hours of Friday morning, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos. The residents of Uri emerged from their bunkers to find their homes damaged, their properties destroyed, and their lives disrupted.
Babar’s family was among the many affected by the shelling. Their house, like many others in the area, was damaged in the attack. The family is now forced to live in a makeshift shelter, waiting for the authorities to clear the area and allow them to return to their homes.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, which has been simmering for decades. The two countries have been locked in a bitter dispute over Kashmir, with each side accusing the other of violating the ceasefire and launching attacks on civilians.
The Uri sector has been a frequent target of Pakistani shelling in recent times, with the area experiencing some of the most intense shelling in recent years. The residents of the area are caught in the crossfire, forced to live in a state of constant fear and uncertainty.
As the dust settles on the latest shelling incident, the residents of Uri are left to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, and the devastating impact it has on innocent civilians.
