Srinagar, May 06: Nearly a year after intense Pakistan shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) claimed around 16 civilian lives, families in Poonch, Rajouri and North Kashmir continue to live with loss that has not faded with time.
The escalation followed the military confrontation after ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May last year, led to Pakistan resorting to heavy artillery and mortar shelling and hit civilian areas in Uri, Karnah and other forward villages, forcing people to flee and leaving a trail of deaths and destruction.
Among those killed was a daily wager labourer from Uri, whose family says life has not been the same since that night.
“He had just returned home when the shelling started. We thought it would pass, but one shell hit near our house,” a Rubeena, a family member said. “We lost him in seconds. Everything ended that night.”
In Poonch and Rajouri, where the shelling was reported to be among the heaviest, families recalled how ordinary evenings turned into scenes of panic.
“We were having dinner when explosions began. Children were crying, people were running,” said, Muzaffar Hussain, a resident of Poonch who lost a relative. “By morning, we had lost him. There was nothing left to say.”
Officials had said at least 13 to 16 civilians were killed during the shelling. Dozens were injured, and several homes were damaged or destroyed.
For many families, the loss was not just emotional but also economic.
“He was the only earning member. Now we are struggling to manage even basic needs,” said a woman in Karnah who lost her husband. “Compensation came, but it cannot replace a life.”
In Rajouri, another family said the memories return every time tensions rise.
“Whenever we hear about firing anywhere, we get scared. It feels like that night is coming back,” a relative said.
Residents across Uri, Karnah and Tangdhar said the shelling left deep psychological scars, especially among children who witnessed the violence.
“Children still get frightened by loud sounds. They remember everything,” a local said.
While calm has largely prevailed along the LoC in recent months, families of victims say peace remains incomplete without a sense of security and justice.
“We do not want anyone else to go through this. Peace should stay, not break again,” said a resident in Boniyar.
As border villages slowly rebuild, the names of those lost remain part of daily conversations—quiet reminders of the cost of conflict borne by civilians living along the LoC—(KNO)
