Lack of bunkers endangers villagers

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 24

Heavy Pakistani shelling along the areas close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Hajipir sector in Uri has left villagers vulnerable as a majority of the community and private bunkers in the area are no longer in use.

Most of the bunkers that existed in villages before the 2003 ceasefire pact were either destroyed in the 2005 earthquake or are in a poor condition.

Amid the renewed ceasefire violations in the Hajipir sector, which started on February 8, around 8,000 residents of seven villages have been affected. The fresh exchange of fire between the Indian and Pakistani armies started on Saturday morning. It has now escalated to heavy artillery shelling.

Gearing up for response, the civil administration and police have been able to relocate over 600 residents of Sohura, Churunda, Silikote and Balkote villages to safer places in Uri town.

“The situation in the area is highly volatile right now as heavy shelling is going on. From our side, we are keeping all our resources ready. The men and machinery are ready in case of any eventuality,” said Sagar D Doifode, Uri Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

In Uri tehsil, spread over a vast and inhospitable hilly region, about 25,000 people live in the most-affected areas of Kamalkote and Hajipir sectors.

Abdul Bari, a resident of Balakoot in Hajipir, admitted that his village and the neighbouring areas in the Hajipir sector were vulnerable to shelling as they did not have bunkers. Describing the situation as “worrisome,” he said his family was still stuck in the village.

When asked about the absence of bunkers, the SDM said as the area had remained quite peaceful since the 2003 ceasefire agreement, the need for the bunkers was not felt.

“We have already sent a proposal for the construction of 3,000 bunkers to the higher authorities a couple of months ago but so far we have not received any response,” he said.

As part of the proposal, which involves huge financial implications, the authorities in Uri have identified five or six villages for the construction of community bunkers.

8,000 residents hit

• Around 8,000 residents of seven villages in the Hajipir sector have been affected by Pakistani shelling. The exchange of fire between the Indian and Pakistani armies started on Saturday morning
• Most of the bunkers that existed in villages before the 2003 ceasefire pact were either destroyed in the 2005 earthquake or are in a poor condition
• The civil administration and police have been able to relocate over 600 residents of Sohura, Churunda, Silikote and Balkote villages to safer places in Uri town