A week after Operation Sindoor launch, Jammu struggles with 'new normal'
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the heavy artillery shelling from Pakistan along the border villages of Jammu triggered yet another wave of displacement for the locals
After days of relentless cross-border tension between India and Pakistan, the ceasefire declared on May 11 under Operation Sindoor is finally taking effect. Air raid sirens have stopped, blackouts have lifted, and life across most of India is slowly returning to normal.
Also read: Jaishankar on Operation Sindoor: 'It is clear who wanted cessation of firing'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called this post-conflict situation a ‘new normal’ in the fight against terrorism, suggesting that India’s robust military response has reset the rules of engagement. “Operation Sindoor has set a new boundary in the fight against terror, a new parameter and a new normal,” Modi declared.
Displacement and destruction
However, in the border regions of Jammu, especially areas like Poonch and Mendhar, normalcy is a fragile illusion. Dozens of homes were destroyed in the shelling, forcing families to flee to temporary relief centres. These residents are again left rebuilding their lives from the rubble.
Also read: Sindoor as a war cry, when all that women want universally is peace
"We were asked to leave by 2 pm... The arrangements by the administration are good. But we didn’t know how the condition of the market was," said a displaced resident from Poonch.
"It was 21 of us. When the whole village was evacuated, our Zamindar asked us also to leave," another resident recounted.
Schools reopen, calm returns
Elsewhere, life limps back to routine. Schools and markets in both Jammu and Kashmir are reopening. The tension remains, but locals are cautiously stepping into what they hope is a peaceful phase.
"After four days, schools have reopened in Kishtwar. There was tension, but now most students have returned," said a school principal.
"Markets have reopened, and we are hoping for normalcy," added a resident from Poonch.
Pain of the forgotten front
Yet, for many border villagers, the ceasefire is only a temporary pause. The destruction to property, loss of livestock, and the psychological trauma of sudden evacuations remain raw.
"We have suffered a lot. No bunkers, no facilities. People build houses with all their savings," said a local resident. “Every house should have a bunker.”
"We cannot keep leaving our homes again and again. The government must answer for what Pakistan keeps doing,” another resident from Akhnoor lamented.
The humanitarian cost of these cycles of conflict rarely receives the same national attention as other internal displacements. While India debates national security, those on the frontlines are once again left with the burden of recovery.
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