Yearning for home at migrant camps

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Nonial Migrant Camp (Nowshera), October 7

Ten-year-old Aaradhya might be sharing the name of the daughter of famous B-town couple Abhishek-Aishwarya Bachchan, but her fortunes are not as good as the star child. She has been rendered homeless by an increased hostility between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC) and is waiting to return to her home in Kalsian village in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

She is not able to mingle with other children as she doesn’t have many friends around in the migrant camp which has been set up at a safe place far from her village where mortar shells landed on Tuesday.

After the shelling, the administration evacuated people from Kalsian and other villages and brought them to the migrant camp at Government High School, Nonial. Around 584 persons from 175 families have found shelter at this place where the administration is providing food and other essentials.

Studying in Class VI at Government Middle School Kalsian, Aaradhya wants to go home and attend the school. But she does not know how and when this will happen. With the situation turning tense with every passing day, children, like Aaradhya, might have to wait for a long time to go back to their home.

Eight-year-old Disha Chaudhary too had a similar tale. “We are here because our village is witnessing shelling from Pakistan side. Shells have landed in vicinity of our homes and we had no choice but to leave,” said Disha, also belonging to Kalsian village.