Kupwara, May 7: The Pakistan Army early Wednesday morning initiated a major escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) by resorting to indiscriminate firing and heavy artillery shelling in Karnah and Chowkibal areas of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district resulting in significant damage to public property, however, no loss of life or injuries were reported.
According to local sources, the intense shelling led to the gutting of five residential houses and five vehicles in Bhatpora, two houses in Gabra, two houses in Tangdhar, and five shops along with one residential house in Triboni, Tangdar.
Heavy artillery fire left the local population in panic and fear, forcing many families to seek shelter in safer locations.
Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate firing at about 4 am. At the outset, we had no idea about what was happening, by the time we could understand anything, a mortar shell exploded in our neighbourhood, and as a result, flames started raging from the residential houses. We left everything behind and rushed towards underground bunkers,î Dr Ishfaq, a local from Tangdhar told Greater Kashmir.
Similarly, people from Chowkibal were terrorised after several mortar shells hit the residential area.
We were sleeping and all of a sudden a huge explosion took place which shook our building. The window panes were broken and we could hardly comprehend anything,î Muhammad Tabraiz, a non-local labourer said.
The mortar shells have rendered partial damage to several residential houses and shops in the main market of Chowkibal.
The business establishments remained shut in Chowkibal while the movement of traffic was very thin on the roads.
Several families in Chowkibal, Marcery, Zunrashi, Tumina, and other villages have moved to safer places.
The people in Chowkibal demanded immediate underground bunkers to thwart any possible eventuality.
Only a few underground bunkers have been constructed in Chowkibal. After indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan in 2020 which claimed two lives and several injured, we demanded a substantial number of underground bunkers in Chowkibal and other adjacent villages but authorities didn’t listen to our repeated pleas, said Adil, a local. ìIt is peak agriculture season but we are forced to leave everything behind. We appeal to authorities to provide us with shelters here and make safety arrangements for us.î
Following heavy shelling, authorities rushed teams to assess the damage and provide immediate relief to the affected families.
Efforts were underway to restore normalcy in the region but the situation remained tense all through the day.
Locals in Karnah and Chowkibal urged the government to enhance safety measures and provide adequate compensation for the losses incurred.
Meanwhile, the administration in Karnah advised people to stay indoors and refrain from venturing out.
An official communiqu in this regard by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Karnah, Zaffar Ahmad Lone reads, Given the prevailing situation, the general of Sub Division Karnah is requested not to assemble outside on roads, streets and shops. People are advised to stay indoors and refrain from venturing out. Further people are requested not to park their vehicles along roadsides (particularly on congested roads). Besides this, the construction material dumped along roadsides may kindly be lifted immediately. Anyone found violating the instructions shall be dealt seriously,î the advisory reads.
