After a harrowing 48 hours marked by relentless Pakistani shelling, the border town of Poonch is finally beginning to exhale—cautiously. The ceasefire agreement announced on Saturday between India and Pakistan has brought a fragile hope to a town reeling from loss, trauma, and devastation.
A Town Under Siege
Between Friday and Saturday, Poonch bore the brunt of the escalating conflict, with five civilians dead, including a senior Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officer, and nearly a dozen injured. Hospitals were overwhelmed, homes shattered, and fear blanketed the region.
The official toll, however, only scratches the surface of the emotional and psychological impact felt by Poonch’s residents—many of whom have endured repeated cycles of violence over the years.
Voices from the Border
For Khalil Ahmad Bandey, a 70-year-old retired forest officer, the ceasefire is nothing short of a miracle. “I feel like I’m alive again,” he said, his voice breaking. “This house was silent. We were ready for anything—life or death.”
Bandey’s life was upended earlier this week when mortar shells began landing dangerously close to his neighborhood. Fearing for their safety, he sent his married daughter and her young children to her in-laws in Rajouri, a relatively safer district. His two sons, one an advocate in Jammu and the other a bank employee in Subderbani, were already away.
“I understand now what it feels like to be an old man left alone in war,” he added.
Scenes of Devastation
Local accounts describe scenes resembling a war zone:
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Schools and government buildings damaged
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Roads pockmarked with shell craters
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Residential homes left in rubble
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Frightened children and elderly seeking refuge in underground shelters
Residents took to sleeping in makeshift bunkers, basements, and inner rooms of stone-walled homes. Even mobile connectivity was spotty, cutting off communication with loved ones outside the conflict zone.
Tariq Hussain, a college teacher who lives near the Degwar sector, said, “We didn’t sleep. We stayed awake all night listening to shell after shell hit our fields. Our cattle are gone. Our crops are destroyed.”
The Human Cost
Among the victims was Imtiaz Qadri, a JKAS officer, who was returning home after an inspection round when his official vehicle was struck by a mortar shell. His sudden death has left the administrative and civil circles in deep mourning.
Two teenage brothers, Nasir (17) and Waseem (14), were also reported dead after shrapnel from a shell hit their home in the village of Salotri. The family had just returned from a wedding when the shelling began.
More than 40 others were injured across various villages in the Balakote, Mankote, and Degwar sectors. Many of them are being treated at Government Medical College in Rajouri, which is functioning in emergency mode.
Ceasefire: A Sliver of Light
As ceasefire announcements crackled through loudspeakers and WhatsApp alerts, a cautious calm descended. The local markets reopened, albeit with limited supplies. Schools remained shut, but government aid began trickling in, including medical tents, trauma support units, and relief packages.
The Army’s Northern Command issued a statement:
“We are monitoring the situation closely. Ceasefire will be honored, but we are prepared to respond to any provocation. Civilian safety remains paramount.”
Residents are skeptical but hopeful. “We’ve seen ceasefires break in hours. But for now, at least, there’s no sound of gunfire,” said Zareena Begum, a mother of three who hadn’t stepped outside her home in two days.
India-Pakistan Conflict: A Flashpoint Again
The current escalation comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed multiple Indian soldiers. In response, India launched precision strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other strategic sites.
Poonch, as always, found itself on the frontlines of retaliatory shelling. The town's strategic location makes it one of the most vulnerable regions during Indo-Pak flare-ups.
Despite decades of unrest, residents like Bandey remain resilient. “We are a border town. We live with uncertainty. But peace is not a privilege—it’s our right.”
Key Facts:
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5 civilians, including a senior JKAS officer, killed in Poonch shelling
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Over 40 injured, with several in critical condition
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Schools shut, markets partially reopened post-ceasefire
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Residents took shelter in bunkers during Friday-Saturday night shelling
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Army and civil authorities launching trauma support and relief efforts
Conclusion
As Poonch slowly crawls out from under the shadow of shelling, its people remain haunted yet hopeful. The ceasefire is a chance to breathe, to mourn, and to rebuild—even if only for a short while. For now, silence is golden, and every moment without gunfire is a moment of life regained.