Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 6: A year after Operation Sindoor, residents of Salamabad village in the Uri sector of north Kashmir are still struggling to rebuild homes damaged in cross-border shelling, with many families saying Government aid has fallen far short of their needs.
On the anniversary of the operation, residents in Salamabad, in Baramulla district near the Line of Control, described a slow and difficult recovery marked by financial hardship, inadequate infrastructure and lingering fear from last year’s violence.
Residents said they received between 2- 3 Lakh rupees in Government assistance to reconstruct their homes, but argued the amount is insufficient given high construction costs and logistical challenges in the hilly border area. “We are labourers earning just 500 rupees a day. It is already difficult to arrange food and medicines. How can we rebuild a house with such a small amount?” said Talib Hussain, a resident of Salamabad.
Many villagers said they are still living in temporary shelters or partially damaged homes, with no access to protective bunkers despite the area’s vulnerability to sporadic cross-border firing. The lack of road connectivity has compounded their difficulties, forcing families to carry construction materials manually over long distances. “We have to carry building material on our heads, which makes the process even more difficult and expensive,” another resident said.
Women in the village described ongoing psychological distress and a sense of abandonment. Zeenat, a resident, said she received relief only once and has seen little follow-up support since. “They knew everything. No one came to me again,” she said.
Residents also said that no bank loans or additional rehabilitation schemes have reached them, leaving families with limited means to rebuild. Many depend on daily wage labor, making it difficult to save for construction while meeting basic needs.
Hussain said his family continues to struggle to support their children’s education. “We work day and night just to feed our children,” he said. “My eldest son is in college, but we don’t have money to support him,” he added.
Others recounted the trauma of the shelling and its lasting impact. Samiya, another resident, said her home was completely destroyed and her family continues to live in uncertainty. “We have suffered a lot. Our house is gone. Even today, if we hear a loud noise, we get scared,” she said. She added, “It has been a year, but we are still struggling. We want the government to give us a house, a roof over our heads.”
Villagers have appealed to authorities to increase compensation, improve road access and provide bunkers and additional support to ensure their safety and rehabilitation.
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