SRINAGAR, May 14 – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday pledged full government assistance to families whose homes were damaged in recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan near the Line of Control (LoC), saying he feels the people’s pain on a personal level.
Abdullah toured several affected villages in Uri—Salamabad, Lagama, Bandi, and Gingal—in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. He was accompanied by his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, local legislator Sajad Uri, and senior district officials.
The visit was part of Abdullah’s broader outreach to communities impacted by shelling. He said the purpose was to assess the damage firsthand and assure residents of government support.
“It is our duty to help rebuild your homes,” Abdullah told families whose houses had been hit during the recent shelling incidents.
He lauded the people of Uri for their enduring strength, noting that despite repeated hardships—including the devastating 2005 earthquake and frequent shelling—they continue to show remarkable courage and resilience.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abdullah wrote: “Visited shelling-affected areas of Uri including Salamabad, Lagama, Bandi, and Gingal. This land has suffered greatly—from the 2005 earthquake to ongoing cross-border shelling. Yet, its people rise again and again with strength and spirit.”
Earlier, the chief minister had posted that the anguish of the people of Jammu and Kashmir feels deeply personal to him. “Heading to Uri today to meet those affected by the recent shelling. Over the past few days, I’ve seen unimaginable pain and courage. These visits should have been about celebrating progress, not offering condolences,” he said.
