Uri families seek aid to rebuild homes

Baramulla, May 7: On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, several families in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have appealed to the government for adequate financial assistance to rebuild their homes damaged in cross-border shelling last year.

Several houses and shops suffered extensive damage after shells fired from across the border hit multiple structures, particularly in the Salamabad and Lagama areas of Uri.

Talib Hussain, a labourer from Salamabad, recalled the night when a shell struck his house, causing severe damage to the structure.

Since then, he and his family have been living in accommodation provided at the Salamabad Trade Centre.

Hussain said they have been unable to rebuild their house even after one year due to financial constraints.

“The government provided us Rs 3 lakh, but it is not enough to rebuild a house,” he said.

He added that the hilly terrain of the area has further increased construction expenses.

“We have already spent more than Rs 2 lakh on headload charges because vehicles cannot reach our area,” he said.

Hussain said the destruction of his house has pushed the family into prolonged hardship and uncertainty.

Similar concerns were raised by another resident, Arifa, whose house was also extensively damaged during the shelling.

Recalling the incident, Arifa said that around 3 am, a shell hit their house, causing massive damage.

“As we ran for safety, another shell exploded in the neighbourhood and splinters struck my leg, arm and chest,” she said.

Although she survived, Arifa said the physical scars of the incident still remain.

“The biggest loss was our home. We are still living in government accommodation, but we do not know when we will be able to rebuild our house and return to normal life,” she said.

The affected families appealed to the authorities to provide sufficient financial assistance to help them reconstruct their homes and restart their lives.