3 students killed in Pakistan shelling, Poonch school opens with tears — and a prayer

Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir – May 20, 2025:
Christ School in Poonch reopened its gates Monday morning, not with the usual chatter of children or the sound of the morning bell, but with silence, sorrow, and prayer. Just weeks ago, the campus became the site of a devastating cross-border shelling incident that took the lives of three of its young students — 12-year-old twins Urwa Fatima and Zain Ali, and 13-year-old Vihaan Bhargav.

The shelling, believed to have originated from the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC), struck the quiet border village of Shahpur in Poonch district earlier this month. The attack left over a dozen civilians dead across the region, with scores injured. But for the students and staff at Christ School, the loss of three innocent lives from their own classrooms turned a geopolitical conflict into a personal tragedy.

Broken Glass and Broken Hearts

Returning to school, many students were met with shattered window panes and cracked walls — the physical aftermath of the explosion still etched into the building. But no damage was more lasting than the emotional scars left behind.

“We used to share our lunchboxes. Now their desks are empty,” whispered Rani, a Class 5 student. “The class feels hollow.”

Only 300 of the usual 1,200 students attended school on reopening day. Parents, shaken by the sudden violence, remain cautious. Some fear sending their children back until safety is guaranteed.

A Morning Prayer for the Departed

The morning assembly, usually filled with energy and songs, was instead a moment of collective mourning. Principal Fr. Shijo Kanjirathingal led the school in silent prayer.

“There are some names we will never call again during roll call,” he said, his voice trembling. “But their memories will remain forever in these classrooms.”

Teachers also lit candles in front of a makeshift memorial — three photographs adorned with garlands, placed beside a chalkboard that once bore cheerful drawings.

A Village in Grief, A Nation on Edge

The Poonch tragedy is one of the most severe instances of cross-border shelling in recent years. Over 13 civilians reportedly lost their lives across Poonch in a 48-hour barrage, which also left more than 60 injured. The attacks followed escalating tensions after a deadly terror strike in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 Indian lives.

In retaliation, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of precision strikes on alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While official statements emphasized military targets, the aftermath has impacted civilians the most.

International Calls for Restraint

The rising violence has drawn international concern. Global human rights bodies and foreign governments have urged both India and Pakistan to de-escalate and protect civilian lives, especially in border regions where communities are caught in the crossfire.

Rebuilding, Slowly and Together

Despite the fear, Christ School is determined to reopen fully in the coming weeks. Teachers are working to provide counseling sessions to children coping with trauma, and local authorities have promised to fortify school infrastructure.

Parents like Aslam Ali, whose daughter survived the blast, are cautiously hopeful. “We can’t live in fear forever. But we also can’t forget. I sent my daughter to school with a prayer today — and I’ll do the same tomorrow.”

For the children of Poonch, the return to normalcy will be slow. But with every lesson resumed, every prayer whispered, they inch toward healing — carrying in their hearts the memory of classmates who should have been there beside them.