The family of Pandit Kishori Lal, who had recently built a new house, rushed into the septic tank with just two minutes to spare
Rajouri, May 11: A family in Rajouri’s border village used an under-construction house’s septic tank as a makeshift bunker to shield themselves from intense shelling by Pakistan.
This timely precaution saved nine members of family as a high explosive artillery shell exploded near their house. The family of Pandit Kishori Lal, who had recently built a new house, rushed into the septic tank with just two minutes to spare.
Moments later, a mortar shell slammed into their home, reducing it to rubble. “That pit saved us,” Lal said, still shaken. His children are still hiding at a neighbour’s place, too afraid to return home. “We do not trust Pakistan. It speaks of peace but continues to attack,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Another resident, Rakesh Pandit, also took shelter in a septic tank with his family. Despite a bomb exploding nearby, they miraculously survived. “This was the first time civilian homes in our village faced such direct fire,” Pandit said, surveying the damage to his home.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of civilians living along the Line of Control, who are often caught in the crossfire. Through their ordeal, Pandit Kishori Lal has appealed to all residents in border areas to make elaborate arrangements for their safety.
“Every house should have a safe shelter, just like we did,” Lal urged. “We were lucky to have the septic tank, but not everyone might be so fortunate. We never thought our new home would be targeted like this,” his son Pandit Rakesh Sharma said, looking at the rubble of what was once his dream home.
He further said that besides converting his under construction septic tank into a make shift bunker, sand bags and some heavy wooden logs were also placed around the tank to strengthen it and these steps saved them from disastrous loss of life in family.
