Srinagar, Nov 10: In a tragic incident that shattered a family’s peace, 39-year-old Aabida, a resident of Naid Khan, Bandipura, is now on life support in the ICU at SMHS Hospital in critical condition. A splinter from a recent grenade attack at Srinagar’s bustling Flea Market struck her head, leaving her life hanging in the balance. Her loved ones cling to hope as their world has been turned upside down.
Outside the ICU, Abida’s husband sits in stunned silence, unable to speak. His face tells the story of helplessness and deep anguish, as he waits with bated breath for a sign of his wife’s recovery. The trauma has left him wordless, his gaze fixed on the door that separates him from Abida.
Their three young children, too small to comprehend the full weight of the tragedy, wait for their mother with innocent hope, unaware of the severity of her condition. Only days ago, they were a joyful family from Bandipura village, venturing into the Sunday market for a day of simple pleasures and shopping. But that happiness was brutally shattered when terrorists launched a grenade into the crowded space.
“A deafening sound was heard, and that is all I remember before we all ran for our lives,” said Abida’s brother, still reliving the horror of the day. The scene was chaos: screams, shattered stalls, and people scrambling for safety in a market transformed into a scene of terror.
Her brother, Waseem Raja, expressed the shock that has gripped the community, despite the area being a high-security zone. “We want peace in Kashmir. We want justice, and let the police and administration identify the perpetrators who did this and punish them,” he pleaded.
The family’s grief has been met with an outpouring of community support, but they remain desperate for justice. Their pain is palpable, their demands clear: bring the perpetrators to justice, and let this kind of terror never strike another family.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah who visited the family at the hospital recently, offered words of comfort and a promise of support. Yet, promises bring little solace when a loved one’s life is in limbo. What the family needs most now is tangible assistance and justice.
The family’s wait continues outside the ICU, praying for a miracle, yearning for the day she can once again embrace her children and share simple joys that once filled their lives.
