SRINAGAR: As calm returns to the forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) following the recent ceasefire, residents of shelling-affected Karnah have appealed to the government to construct bunkers to ensure their safety.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district to assess the damage firsthand, met with displaced families during his visit.
The residents expressed their gratitude for surviving but conveyed their profound losses. They emphasised that while they need immediate assistance, their long-term concern is the establishment of proper security infrastructure.
“We don’t want to go through this again. Please give us bunkers,” the villagers told Omar as he interacted with them amidst the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings. Although the area did not witness civilian casualties, the material damage is extensive, with homes destroyed, livelihoods broken, and a community left traumatised.
Acknowledging the devastation, the Chief Minister assured the residents that bunker construction would be undertaken in areas where it is needed the most. “We are on it,” he said, adding that the safety and dignity of people living along the LoC are of utmost importance.
Omar praised the villagers’ strength and courage in the face of adversity. “The families here have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Their pain will not go unnoticed,” he said.
He further promised that every possible step would be taken to help the affected people rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope. Long-term rehabilitation plans are already in progress, he added.
The village of Karnah currently presents a grim picture, with collapsed walls, roofless homes, and streets covered in rubble. While many people have begun returning to assess the damage, many remain in government-designated shelters, awaiting official clearance and support. (KNO)
