Eerie silence hits Uri as locals evacuate

People describe the ongoing shelling as the worst in more than 50 years

- Mir Ehsan

URI: Pakistan shelling has taken away the hustle and bustle of the border town Uri in North Kashmir and triggered large-scale migration.

The once bustling town is deserted, with almost all the shops shut and people having left for safer places, fearing for their lives after the Thursday night intense shelling by Pakistan from across the Line of Control (LoC).

Families carrying minimal belongings and children with school bags at many places were seen heading towards safer places, especially Boniyar and Baramulla towns.

"I am taking my family to Baramulla for a few days. I don't want to risk their lives. Last night was terrible all across Uri. Most people are migrating towards safer places," said Javeed Ahmad of Razarwani village.

The escalation of hostilities started after India's Operation Sindoor during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The shelling started around 9pm on Thursday and continued till morning, leaving a woman dead and three others injured.

More than 50 structures were damaged in the shelling, which people describe as the worst in the two decades.

"We have never witnessed this type of shelling. In our village, 10 houses were damaged," said Abdul Aziz, who was busy collecting some items still intact from a damaged house in Gingal.

"Almost 80% of the people have already left fearing for their lives," he said, adding that he is leaving towards safer places.

Another local Molvi Zubair said that he had shifted his family to Baramulla.

"Our village, after last night's shelling, is empty. Earlier today, my relatives also left, and I came here to get my relatives out till the situation improves," he said.