Cross-border shelling leaves trial of destruction across J&K villages

Srinagar, May 9: A fresh wave of intense cross-border shelling late Thursday night left a trail of destruction along Jammu and Kashmir’s Line of Control (LoC), engulfing multiple villages in Uri, Kupwara and Poonch in chaos, fear and devastation.
The shelling, which began around midnight and continued for hours, damaged residential homes, commercial establishments, and vehicles—leaving civilians to pick up the pieces once again.
In Uri villages, residents described a night of terror. “The shelling didn’t stop till 5 AM. We kept praying for our lives,” said a local.
One civilian was killed, and two others were injured in the shelling, while dozens of homes were left severely damaged. “It took a whole life to build our houses, and now we are left with nothing,” said one resident, standing amid the rubble of his home.
Kupwara’s Keran and Chowkibal sectors also bore the brunt of the shelling. Although no casualties were reported from these areas, the damage to property was extensive. “We’re not meant for this—we want peaceful lives,” said a villager, breaking down in tears as evacuation teams moved them to safer zones.
Authorities swiftly launched evacuation efforts across Baramulla, Kupwara and Poonch with the government requisitioning buses from private schools and transport operators to shift affected families.
Relief centers were set up in safer areas in Uri, Boniyar and Baramulla town, where hundreds have taken shelter. “We are leaving out of fear. The government is accommodating us, but our hearts remain with our homes,” said Fayaz Ahmed, a resident of Badgara, Uri.
Sentiments of fear, frustration and exhaustion echoed across the region. “We’re used to the shelling, but we plead—let it end once and for all. War is not the answer,” said another Uri resident. “Civilians are dying, and we’re losing everything to this madness. The government must introspect and take real steps for peace.”
Meanwhile, the locals renewed demands for the construction of community bunkers, citing repeated failure to provide adequate long-term safety measures despite recurrent ceasefire violations. “We have nowhere to go when firing starts. Bunkers are the minimum we deserve,” said a displaced villager in Kupwara.
In Poonch, which also witnessed heavy shelling over the past few days, casualties were reported earlier in the week. On Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected villages, describing the situation as deeply distressing. “Poonch has suffered a huge loss. We are working to ensure relief, assistance, and the safety of residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Uri to take stock of the situation. He met the injured at GMC Baramulla, assuring families of full support and promising all possible measures for safety and rehabilitation. “We stand with the people of Uri and other LoC villages in this hour of distress,” he stated.
It is noteworthy that the fresh escalation follows the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. In response, the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure across the border. Since then, tensions have only intensified, pushing border communities once again into the crossfire. (KNO)