In response to a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the loss of 26 lives, the Jammu and Kashmir education department has initiated a wartime safety training program aimed at schools situated along the Line of Control (LoC). This program is designed to equip students with essential life-saving skills and survival techniques in the face of increasing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
The attack on April 22, which occurred in the Baisaran valley and primarily targeted tourists, has been identified as the deadliest act of terrorism in Kashmir since the infamous Pulwama incident in 2019. This incident has escalated hostilities along the LoC, prompting Pakistani forces to breach ceasefires for six consecutive nights. In retaliation, the Indian Army has conducted counter-operations, including retaliatory fire in the Pargwal sector of Jammu.
Schools in areas like Tulawari, located merely 200 meters from Pakistani bunkers, are now at the focal point of this tense situation. The newly implemented safety training encompasses emergency drills, instructions on how to protect oneself from artillery fire, and strategies for different wartime scenarios. Both educators and students are participating in these training sessions, which are being facilitated with support from local security and civil authorities.
Residents of Tulawari remember instances when their school was targeted during heavy shelling, although there had been a period of relative peace until the recent spike in violence. As fears of renewed conflict grow, there is increasing concern about the inadequacy of infrastructure designed to protect civilians, particularly children.
Currently, Tulawari is equipped with just two community bunkers, which are insufficient to accommodate the entire population, let alone the schoolchildren. Parents and educators are advocating for improved safety measures, including the construction of additional bunkers and reinforced shelters, to ensure the community is better prepared for any potential escalation of violence.
As tensions remain high, the region is on heightened alert. This safety training initiative is a crucial, though somber, step toward protecting the next generation in one of India’s most militarized and vulnerable areas.
