JAMMU: Hundreds of displaced border residents are fighting twin battles to stay alive in the forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu region.
In the forward areas, they have to ensure their own safety during intense Pak shelling and when moved to safer locations in relief camps they have to struggle hard to beat the harsh winter conditions.
With night temperatures constantly falling down, it is the children and senior citizens camping in relief camps, away from the cozy comforts of their own homes, who are facing the brunt.
The school going children are suffering in isolation as schools along the Line of Control in Akhnoor continue to stay closed due to frequent breach of ceasefire agreement.
On Thursday night when Pak army intensified shelling in the area hundreds of border people shifted to safer places and vacated their homes across one dozen worst affected villages.
In the morning, when some of them returned home they noticed the scale of devastation by the Pak shelling. The walls of several houses bore signs of devastation.
In the evening the army authorities advised the villagers to return to safer places as they were anticipating fresh exchange of fire from the Pak side.
Till late Friday evening intermittent firing was reported in some of the forward areas. According to reports only small arms fire was reported from the Pakistan side.
Intelligence reports claimed that Pak army was desperately trying to push groups of infiltrators before peak winters. Pak army has been providing cover fire to group of infiltrators but alert Indian troopers are foiling these bids.
On the other hand the State Government authorities have been making tall claims of organising basic amenities at the relief camps but on ground zero it is the socio-religious organisations which are coming out to help the common masses in challenging times.
According to border residents, the State Government run shelters lack basic amenities and people prefer staying with their close relatives or other camps run by religious institutions.
One of the biggest relief camps which is accommodating large number of displaced border residents is being managed by Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan in Khour area of Akhnoor.
The camp is full of displaced border residents and community kitchen is serving them food. Braving cold winter nights the residents are accommodated under the tin roof and covers are used to block chilly winds. Majority of residents spread their ‘durries’ and woollen sheets before sleeping.