Villagers suffer devastating shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir

On May 6, 2025, the village of Salamabad, located in Indian-administered Kashmir near the Line of Control, experienced severe shelling, reportedly from Pakistani forces. The early morning attack resulted in significant destruction to homes and left residents in panic. Eyewitnesses described an explosive scene whereby mortar shells landed near a local water dam and thereafter struck several houses. Bashir Ahmad, a local shopkeeper, recounted the terrifying moment of the initial blast that jolted villagers from their sleep. He noted that a total of around 100 residents live in Salamabad, yet only a handful remained after the shelling as most fled in search of safety. The government reportedly did not issue any warning or safety advisories to the villagers prior to the attack. As shelling incidents have previously happened in this region until 2021, a ceasefire agreement had brought about a period of relative calm. However, the recent military actions have sparked fears among the local population about the prospect of renewed conflict. Following the traumatic night, Badrudin, a resident who suffered injuries alongside his eight-year-old son and sister-in-law, expressed his devastation—having taken out a loan to build his home only to see it demolished in the attack. His plea for peace resonates throughout the stricken area, where many villagers now fear for their lives and homes. Destruction left in the wake of the shelling is physically evident in Salamabad, where two homes were completely hollowed out and their roofs buckled. Residents on the streets were almost nonexistent as locals evacuated from their homes, overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation. Such scenes evoke memories from prior years when cross-border fire was not uncommon, and uncertainty looms once more over the fragile ceasefire. The psychological toll on the community led to emotional distress as hopes for stability in the region seem bleak, and villagers ponder the precarious reality of living under threat of escalation in violence. The tension between India and Pakistan is historically fueled by territorial disputes, and this current incident has reignited fears of return to prior hostilities as people grapple with the aftermath of the shelling and seek refuge from the violence. As Salamabad inhabitants sift through the destruction, there is a growing desire among them for normalcy and peace, indicating the generational impact of such conflict. Stories like those of Ahmad and Badrudin illustrate the deep scars left on families, raising critical questions about the future safety of residents in the Line of Control.