We’ve seen wars, but not this fear: Uri residents

Uri, May 8: Terrified cries, shattered windows and homes turned to rubble—this is what remains in a Uri village along the Line of Control (LoC) after intense shelling from across the border that left residents traumatised and displaced.
Villagers recounted the horror they endured, even as the public representatives and emergency services stepped in to respond to the crisis.
In Uri’s Salamabad – one of the worst-affected villages – elderly resident Alaf Din described the panic as shells rained down around 3 am. “We ran to a neighbour’s house. Minutes later, a shell destroyed ours completely,” he said. “We have nothing left—only our lives, and even that felt uncertain.”
Several structures in the village were reduced to debris, and at least nine civilians sustained injuries, now undergoing treatment at hospitals in Baramulla and elsewhere.
“We have no other option but to leave our homes,” said a Salamabad resident, taking shelter at the government-established relief centre in Government Degree College (GDC) Uri. “We’re not safe there anymore—shells can drop anytime, without warning,” he said.
Another resident said they are left with nothing but fear and uncertainty. “It took us a whole life to build our homes, but in just a moment, everything was destroyed,” he said.
Visiting the affected areas, MLA Sajjad Shafi termed the situation “unfortunate and heart-wrenching”, highlighting how border residents remain the worst sufferers during such escalations. “Our people have seen the wars of 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1998, but the kind of terror and helplessness they feel now is unprecedented,” he said, pointing to the deserted markets and abandoned homes as painful evidence.
The MLA praised the administration’s prompt action and outlined the three-tier evacuation setup now in place. “We are shifting people first to Uri, then to Boniyar and finally to Baramulla. Health facilities are fully equipped, and no effort is being spared,” he added.
While Sajjad confirmed injuries, he expressed relief that no lives were lost. He appealed for calm and assured residents that they are not alone. “We are here for you,” he said.
MLA Uri blamed the recent Pahalgam terror attack for disturbing the fragile peace that border residents had begun to enjoy and prayed for the safe return of displaced families.
In anticipation of further emergencies, the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department conducted a mock drill in Uri, assuring locals that they are fully prepared.
An official confirmed that five fire tenders are on standby—one each from Srinagar, Sopore, Muqam, and Baramulla, in addition to the existing unit in Uri. “Our manpower and machinery are alert. We are ready for any fire or rescue operation that may be needed,” the official said.
With homes destroyed, livestock abandoned and what not, the residents across the LoC belt repeated the same plea: “War is no solution.” They called on both India and Pakistan to restore peace and safeguard the lives of civilians who live on the frontlines of every flare-up.
It is pertinent to mention that the authorities acted swiftly and relocated several families to safer locations. However, the trauma continues to linger.
The escalation follows the launch of “Operation Sindoor” by Indian forces, which targeted terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan. The operation was in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured several others. (KNO)