Srinagar, May 20: Days after calm returned to the Line of Control (LoC), villagers in north Kashmir’s border areas are grappling to rebuild their shattered lives. The harrowing memories of shelling, missile strikes, and low-flying drones still haunt them as they reflect on what they describe as the “worst period” of violence in decades.
In Tangdhar’s Amrohi village, 62-year-old Noor Din stands beside the ruins of his ancestral home. A gaping hole in the roof, scorched walls, and cracked floors bear testament to the devastation caused by Pakistani shelling following India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“Noor Din, staring at the debris, said he had never witnessed wars in the past but had never seen anything like this. ‘The sky was on fire. Shells rained down without pause. We ran with nothing but our lives, praying to make it out alive,’ he recalled.
Hundreds of residents across villages such as Tangdhar, Teetwal, Karnah, and Keran were forced to flee their homes amid the cross-border shelling that followed Operation Sindoor—India’s targeted strike on terror infrastructure across the LoC and Pakistan.
Now, as residents slowly return to assess the damage, many say they’ve never felt this vulnerable before.
Shabir Hussain, a resident of Chamkote village, described the experience as “Judgment Day.” “Houses were shaking, windows shattered, and people screamed. For the first time in my life, I thought we would all die,” he said. “My house was turned into rubble. Nothing was left—no documents, no belongings. This was not just a military conflict. It was a direct attack on our lives.”
Many homes have been either partially or completely destroyed. Families that once lived under stable roofs are now forced to take shelter in cowsheds or makeshift tents. Others have sought refuge in damaged schools or community halls.
In Uri’s Dachin village, just a few kilometers from the LoC, 45-year-old Saleema Begum described the chaos: “The only bunker we had collapsed during the shelling. People were screaming, children crying. It was pure chaos.”
“We’ve lived through many ceasefire violations, but this time it felt like war. Missiles were flying overhead, and no one in our area slept for five nights straight,” she added.
Shabir Hussain from Namba village in Uri remarked that life had been peaceful for years. “Even tourism was beginning to pick up in our area,” he said, reflecting on the sharp contrast to the recent turmoil.
Local administrations in both Kupwara and Baramulla districts have initiated surveys to assess damage to residential houses, schools, and public infrastructure.
Temporary shelters and relief materials have been provided, but many families are choosing to live in rented accommodations in towns like Baramulla and Sopore, unwilling to return home just yet.
Despite the physical damage, it is the psychological trauma that residents say may take the longest to heal.
Though a ceasefire was announced on May 12, bringing a halt to the hostilities, the trauma remains fresh. Residents fear that the peace may be short-lived and are demanding that both nations commit to long-term de-escalation and dialogue.
A police spokesman told Rising Kashmir that following the successful disposal of several unexploded ordnances (UXOs) that posed a grave threat to life and property, people from most areas of north Kashmir have returned to their localities in Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
“These UXOs were found and safely neutralised in multiple villages including Kamalkote, Madhan, Gowhallan, Salamabad (Bijhama), Gangerhill, and Gawalta all situated in thsector. After thorough clearance operations by bomb disposal squads, the district administration gave the green light for evacuees from these villages to return to their homes, he said.
However, he cautioned that additional unexploded shells could still pose a threat. “We advise residents to remain vigilant, as these UXOs pose a critical risk to life and property. Any suspicious objects resembling an explosive shell or device should not be touched or tampered with. Instead, they should immediately report them to the police or nearest security personnel,” he warned.
“Unauthorized access to these zones is prohibited, as mishandling unexploded ordnance could lead to fatal consequences or irreversible injuries,” the spokesperson concluded.
