Lives in the Crossfire: Civilian Pain Deepens Amid India-Pakistan Escalation
India-Pak tensions increase as border shelling displaced civilians. Drone strikes intensify. Sources on ground suspect intense escalation; safety measures expected.
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: May 10, 2025
Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following the execution of Operation Sindoor by Indian armed forces around midnight on May 7. In the wake of this military operation, border districts—especially in Jammu and Kashmir—are witnessing intense cross-border shelling and drone attacks. Civilian homes, public spaces, and entire neighborhoods have come under fire, displacing families and turning once-thriving communities into conflict zones. The latest wave of violence has left a trail of destruction across the region, with harrowing stories emerging from Uri, Kupwara, Jammu, and beyond.
Homes Turns into Rubble
In Uri, continuous shelling has devastated numerous homes. Among them, a modest house now stands in ruin—its frame twisted, walls pierced, and windows shattered. Reduced to rubble, the yard is strewn with glass and torn roofing, as residents comb through the debris in search of remnants of their former lives.
Image Courtesy: Basit Zargar
Forced to Flee: Uri’s Civilians on the Move
With danger looming large, families in Uri have begun evacuating—some carrying only a few belongings and the burden of uncertainty. These women, visibly weary, walk through rain-soaked roads with bags in hand, displaced by conflict.
Image Courtesy: Junaid Bhat
Tangdhar Wounded: Faces of Pain and Perseverance
Civilians and dozens of homes in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district, Kashmir were hit by shelling causing widespread fear and panic. Inside a hospital ward in Tangdhar sector, Kupwara, a father and son lie injured during recent waves of shelling.
Image Courtesy: Greater Kashmir
Tangdhar, often in the direct line of fire, continues to pay the steepest price. Located about 67 kilometers from the Kupwara district headquarters, it sits precariously close to the Line of Control (LoC), bearing the brunt of every escalation.
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Houses Ripped by Shelling
Further north, in Kupwara, several homes have sustained damage from the ongoing hostilities. One such residence now stands gutted by heavy shelling—its windows shattered, walls torn apart and blasted open. The destruction starkly illustrates the constant risks faced by those living along the Line of Control.
Image Courtesy: Nawakadal
Devastation in Rehari Colony, Jammu
The heart of Jammu's Rehari Colony lay battered as the aftermath of an explosion tore through residential blocks. Roofs caved in, vehicles were shredded, and thick layers of dust coated every inch—marking the chaos that erupted in what once was a quiet street. Families stood stunned, gazing at the ruins of their homes, unsure of how to begin again.
One resident from Digiana Ashram told Kanal, “This is the first time we've seen this level of destruction in Jammu city. The sight is a jarring reminder of how conflict creeps into civilian lives, leaving irreversible scars. Civilian lives are not collateral—they need protection and resolution.”
Image Courtesy: Locals of Jammu
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Interceptions and Losses
Located just 4 kilometers from Jammu airport and 40 kilometers from the International Border, Digiana Ashram was among several regions where Indian air defense systems on the night of May 8 intercepted missiles aimed at populated areas including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Gandhi Nagar, and Arnia.
In Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district and Punjab’s Ferozepur, locals recorded similar scenes as drones were intercepted in real-time and three civilians were reported to be injured.
Among the casualties, Additional District Development Commissioner Mr. Raj Kumar Thappa of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service was killed in Rajouri following a severe wave of shelling. His death sent shockwaves through the district administration and people.
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Official Confirmation on Attacks
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur were targeted by drones and missiles of Pakistani origin, aimed along the International Border.
During a press briefing on May 9, government officials stated that 36 locations were struck by 300–400 drones, many of which have now been identified as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models—tactical drones capable of surveillance and precision strikes. Forensic teams have recovered debris confirming their foreign origin, signaling the scale and sophistication of the attack.
From the hills of Uri to the plains of Rajasthan, a grim pattern is emerging: civilians are direct victims of conflict. As cross-border hostilities deepen, the need for both de-escalation and humanitarian protection is highly anticipated.
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