Title: Sat to eat when sirens went off due to Pak shelling: J&K resident
The Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district was shaken by intense shelling on Thursday night, resulting in the death of one woman and leaving several others injured. The residents of Uri, including 38-year-old Babar, were in the middle of their dinner when the sirens went off, signaling the start of the Pakistani shelling.
“We just sat down to eat when the siren rang out…We left everything and ran to the neighbours’ bunker,” Babar said, recalling the terrifying incident. His house, which he shares with his family, has a history of destruction. It was first destroyed by shelling in 1999, and later by an earthquake.
The shelling started around 9:30 pm, with shells raining down on the town, causing widespread damage to residential areas. The Indian Army retaliated, but the Pakistani shelling continued for several hours, leaving the residents of Uri on edge.
Babar’s family, including his wife and two children, were among those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety. “We were in the middle of our dinner when the sirens went off. We didn’t even have time to grab our belongings before rushing to the neighbours’ bunker,” he said.
The bunker, located in a nearby building, provided some measure of safety, but it was not enough to alleviate the fear and anxiety that gripped the residents of Uri. The sounds of explosions and gunfire continued to echo through the town, making it difficult for people to fall asleep or even stay awake.
The Pakistani shelling was intense, with shells falling on residential areas, markets, and even the Uri district hospital. The hospital, which is the only major healthcare facility in the area, was forced to evacuate its patients and staff to a safer location.
The Uri town is already reeling from the effects of the pandemic, which has made it difficult for people to make a living. The shelling has only added to their woes, leaving many without homes or livelihoods.
Babar’s family is among the many who have been affected by the shelling. His house, which was destroyed in the 1999 shelling, was rebuilt, only to be damaged again by the earthquake. The family is now forced to live in a makeshift shelter, with little hope of rebuilding their lives anytime soon.
The Pakistani shelling is not new to the residents of Uri. The town has been a hotspot for cross-border firing and shelling for several years, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
The incident has sparked outrage among the residents of Uri, who are demanding that the government take immediate action to protect them from the Pakistani shelling. “We are tired of living in fear. We want the government to take action to ensure our safety and security,” said Babar.
The Indian government has condemned the Pakistani shelling, saying that it is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement. The Army has also released a statement, saying that it has retaliated to the Pakistani shelling and will continue to do so until the situation is brought under control.
The incident is a grim reminder of the fragile situation on the Line of Control (LoC), which has been the site of several skirmishes and ceasefire violations in recent years. The residents of Uri are caught in the midst of a conflict that seems to have no end in sight.
As the residents of Uri try to come to terms with the latest incident of shelling, they are left wondering when their lives will return to normal. The shelling may have stopped for now, but the fear and anxiety it has caused will linger for a long time.
