In line of fire: Students near LoC learn to survive amid growing tensions

In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists, schools along the International Border in Jammu’s Arnia sector have initiated emergency preparedness drills. Children as young as ten are now being trained in basic crisis response measures, as authorities brace for potential cross-border hostilities.
In Treva, a village located perilously close to the border, regular classroom activities have been supplemented with drills that mirror conflict-zone readiness. At the Government Middle School, students practiced duck-and-cover techniques this week, taking shelter under benches and rehearsing evacuation procedures under the supervision of faculty trained in basic disaster response.
“We cannot take chances with the safety of our children,” said Sushma Kumari, Headmistress of the school. “Given the current situation along the Line of Control, we have conducted special mock drills in all schools. Each school is equipped with bunkers, and students are participating actively.”
Referring to the psychological impact of the Pahalgam attack, Kumari added, “The fear is real, but the goal is not to create panic. We are focusing on preparedness, ensuring that our students know how to respond in an emergency.”
Sources in the Jammu District Administration confirmed that the Border Security Force (BSF) has been directed to coordinate with school authorities to assess vulnerabilities and assist in implementing safety protocols, particularly in areas prone to ceasefire violations.
In addition, civil defence volunteers have been deployed to select schools to provide basic training. “In sensitive villages like Treva, Sai, and Allah, we’re promoting awareness and readiness through these drills,” a senior district official said. “Children are among the most vulnerable in any emergency. It is our duty to prepare them, not frighten them.”
For local residents, the drills have brought a mix of anxiety and reassurance. Sunita Devi, a mother of two school-going children in Treva, said, “We send our children to school with prayers on our lips. These drills bring a little peace of mind, knowing they are being taught how to stay safe.”
Teachers, meanwhile, are walking a tightrope between readiness and reassurance. “We present the drills like fire drills, just another way to stay safe,” said Rajesh Sharma, a teacher overseeing the exercises. “But the underlying reason for these precautions weighs heavily on all of us.”
Similar training programs are reportedly being considered for schools in the R.S. Pura and Suchetgarh sectors if tensions continue to escalate.