Kupwara, Apr 30: The devastating Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 persons has resulted in fear among the residents of border areas of this north Kashmir district.
The rising tension has compelled the people of Karnah, Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Marsari, Chowkibal, and other places to prepare for the worst.
The people in these areas have begun cleaning and repairing underground bunkers to cope with any potential eventuality due to rising tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
ìI remember the shelling and gunfire in the previous years. We are scared it might happen again. So, we are carrying out the necessary repair work in these underground bunkers. We are preparing bunkers as a precaution, but hopefully it will not come to that,î former Sarpanch Machil Habibullah told Greater Kashmir.
These bunkers, aimed to provide shelter during cross-border shelling, had not been put to use in recent years after both countries in February 2021 entered into a ceasefire agreement following which peace returned to the border areas.
However, with the recent attack and the escalating tensions, the residents are taking no chances.
They are working tirelessly to ensure that the bunkers are safe and secure, providing a refuge for families in the event of an emergency.
ìWe are living in uncertainty, not knowing what will happen next. We want peace, but we also want to be prepared. These bunkers are our only hope in case of an emergency,î said another local of Keran.
The atmosphere in the border villages is thick with anxiety. The residents seem to be worried about the potential eventuality or any sort of conflict between the two countries.
ìWe have lived through previous conflicts and are aware of the devastating impact it can have on our lives. The fear of artillery shelling, gunfire, and other forms of violence is palpable. So, we are taking steps to protect ourselves and our families,î said Mumtaz Ahmad, a resident of Chowkibal.
ìWe have experienced the devastation the war brings. So we donít want to go through it again. We are preparing the bunkers for our childrenís safety, but we pray that we never have to use them,î he said.
As the tension is multiplying, the residents of those areas living close to the Line of Control (LoC) remain on high alert. They are preparing for the worst but at the same time hoping that peace will be restored so that they continue with their normal lives.
