Ceasefire brings relief to J&K; displaced villagers back home as normalcy returns

Many border residents of Jammu and Kashmir, who fled their homes due to intense shelling by Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, have returned to their homes, after a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after four days of hostilities.

Nearly everyone from forward areas in Rajouri and Poonch districts, who were displaced during the cross-border firing, are back in their villages. Officials said more than 90 per cent of the people from forward areas in Rajouri district have returned.

In neighbouring Poonch district, the worst-hit border town, officials said most of the displaced people have returned after clearance from the security forces. They returned after security forces neutralised unexploded shells and ensured that everything was safe. The successful disposal of unexploded ordnance helped boost public confidence and allowed for the safe return of residents.

In Uri of Baramulla district—around 100 kilometres from Srinagar—many displaced residents have also returned. Farooq Ahmed, a resident of Balkote near the LoC, confirmed that some villagers who had fled the area are now back. Uri, a township of 95 villages with a population of over one lakh, includes areas close to the LoC such as Kamalkote, Silkote, Sultan Daki, Churanda, and Hathlanga. Some families from these villages had bought property in Baramulla and elsewhere in Kashmir to escape repeated shelling during past tensions with Pakistan.

In Karnah tehsil, Kupwara—located along the Kishenganga river about 160 kilometres north of Srinagar—residents from badly affected villages like Haji Naar and Bagh Mela have also returned home. A senior resident, Ghulam Mustaf Magray, said, “After the ceasefire, people have resumed their normal work and are back in the fields.”

On 14 May, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited several areas in Uri to meet families affected by the shelling.

At Salamabad, Abdullah met affected families and assured them of continued support. “It is the responsibility of my government to ensure you receive the necessary support to rebuild your lives with dignity,” he told residents.

At Razarwani, he offered condolences to the family of Nargis Begum, who tragically lost her life when a shell struck their vehicle as they tried to flee the area.

India