Indo-Pak ceasefire: Life returns to normal in Kupwara border areas
Kupwara, May 14: Following the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, life is returning to normalcy in the border areas including Chowkibal, Karnah, Machil, Keran, Kumkadi and Budnamal areas north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, bringing relief to locals who went through severe hardships and trauma due to intense shelling in the previous week.
The border town Karnah which bore the brunt is returning to normalcy with people returning to their native area after deserting the town last week due to intense cross border shelling.
Atleast 300 families who were shifted to safer locations in Kupwara town are making their way back to their homes. However, the destruction left behind happens to be huge.
According to official sources around 20 houses have been fully damaged while more than hundred have sustained partial damage. Eleven vehicles, three school buildings, and ten community centers have also sustained damage due to cross border shelling. The damage to property and horticulture, especially walnut trees amounts to a huge capital which will haunt the population for many years.
Apart from the testing times, the spirit of people in Karnah remains steadfast. "We want peace, not war. Hope this ceasefire will come up with permanent calm and peace in the region. The return of children to playgrounds and most importantly reopening of local markets are signs of life inching back to normalcy" said Dr Ishfaq while talking to Greater Kashmir.
The locals of Machil and Keran have also started to return to their homes after almost a week's displacement from their areas. "Post 2021 ceasefire agreement, we lived a peaceful life until last week. Hope the new ceasefire agreement will be permanent. Following ceasefire violations from across the border, we left everything behind and escaped for our safety," said a local from the Keran area of Kupwara.
Similarly, people from Machil have returned back to their area. Over three hundred people from Machil were shifted by district administration to Government Degree College (GDC) Sogam where they were provided free food for several days. Amid hopes for peace, locals of these areas have once again demanded the construction of underground bunkers in their areas to thwart any potential eventuality in future.
