KV Exclusive: Smart Houses Light up Hope on JK’s Borders
From bunkers to blast-proof homes, families in Poonch, Uri and other LoC villages find a new beginning
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: For decades, the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir have lived under the shadow of fear. Every time the sound of shelling echoed across the Line of Control (LoC), families would leave behind their meals, their cattle, and even their elderly to rush into makeshift bunkers. For many, the May shelling this year was the breaking point — entire neighbourhoods in Uri, Poonch and Rajouri saw their mud houses reduced to rubble.
But today, a quiet change is bringing back smiles and dignity. Newly constructed smart houses — built with reinforced blast-resistant structures, solar lights, kitchens, and sanitation facilities — are replacing fear with hope.
“We used to spend nights in underground bunkers with our children crying in fear,” recalled Mohammad Yousuf from Uri, whose family lost their ancestral house during the May clashes. “Now, when I close the door of my smart house at night, I feel a peace I never thought I would have in my lifetime.”
In Poonch, Shazia Begum, a widow and mother of three, said receiving the keys to her smart house was nothing less than a miracle. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she shared: “This house is not just bricks and cement, it is a shield for my children. Earlier, each shelling reminded me of the day I lost my husband. Today, this smart house reminds me that our suffering has not been forgotten.”
Children too are breathing easier. In Uri sector, 10-year-old Zubair smiled as he ran inside his new home, still under construction. “Ammi says we don’t need to run to uncle’s house when guns fire. I can study without fear now,” he said, proudly pointing to a small study corner in the new house.
For the elderly, the change is equally profound. Abdul Latif, 68, from Tangdhar, said: “All my life I saw houses destroyed and rebuilt in the same mud and stone. But these smart houses are different. They are strong, they are safe, and they give us dignity. For the first time, I feel our government has truly stood with us.”
Officials say the project is being rolled out in phases, covering the most vulnerable villages first. Each smart house is equipped with blast-proof roofing, solar lighting, modern toilets, and stronger foundations to withstand shelling.
“Our dream was never big cities or luxuries,” said Mehraj-ud-Din, a farmer from Rajouri. “Our only prayer was to live without fear. These houses have given us that.”
As dusk sets over the LoC, solar lamps glowing from the new homes paint a new picture of resilience. For families that once ran to bunkers at the crack of gunfire, these smart houses are more than just shelter — they are the promise of a safer tomorrow.
