Valley spends night in the open

For 15 years, they have been witnessing violence, but perhaps for the first time, fear of death made them spend an entire night out in the o...

For 15 years, they have been witnessing violence, but perhaps for the first time, fear of death made them spend an entire night out in the open. The people of the Valley, fearing fresh tremors, remained awake the whole night. The playgrounds of Srinagar, crowded on Sundays even when encounters are on, were deserted. And there was no Sunday market,

8220;This is terrible,8221; says Akhtar Hussain Malik, a university student. Malik spent the night in the lawns of his house. 8220;It was cold and raining but I was scared. I could not sleep the whole night.8221;

The residents of Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Srinagar, were out on the roads, in parks 8230; any place that made them feel safe.

8220;I spent the night in my car,8221; says Aijaz Ahmad, a geologist. As Ahmad was talking to the The Indian Express, a fresh tremor jolted the city, sending residents rushing out of houses and shops. 8220;How can we sleep after witnessing the death and destruction of yesterday? The government too has issued a warning and asked us to stay outdoors. The tremors continued the whole night.8221;

8220;My mother doesn8217;t allow me to go to play,8221; said Shadab Firdous, a Class IX student. 8220;I am frightened too.8221;

The city8217;s main roads saw little traffic. And the Sunday market, that gives colour to the otherwise dull Sundays, is missing.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More