It was a night of fear, pain, and unimaginable loss for families living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. As the sun rose on Thursday, the full extent of the tragedy became clear—thirteen civilians had lost their lives, and 59 others were injured due to heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army.
Most of the wounded—44 people—are residents of the Poonch sector, a close-knit community now grappling with grief and trauma. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the shelling was unprovoked and indiscriminate, raining destruction on villages where families were simply trying to live in peace.
For those living in the border areas, it was a harrowing night. Residents described scenes of chaos as homes shook from artillery blasts and families huddled in corners, praying for the dawn. One mother, still trembling, said she spent the night shielding her children in a dark room, unsure if they would live to see the morning.
The escalation comes in the wake of India’s strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier this week. Since then, tensions have surged, with intensified firing reported in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor. The Indian Army has responded with restraint but firmness, ensuring civilian safety as a top priority.
With security concerns rising, all schools in five border districts of Jammu region have been ordered to remain closed for a second consecutive day. For thousands of children, a normal school day has been replaced by the sounds of shelling and the fear of uncertainty.
As the region mourns its dead and prays for the injured, there is a growing call—for peace, for restraint, and most of all, for the right of every civilian to live without fear in their own home.
