As per local government sources and media reports, a fighter jet allegedly crashed in Jammu and Kashmir on April 7, hours after India said it struck “nine Pakistani terrorist infrastructure sites” across the border. While official confirmation is awaited, the crash near Wuyan in Pampore left residents terrified.
They heard a loud explosion and flames erupted from a school in this congested area. Within nearly half an hour, a fire service vehicle arrived at the scene and soon a heavy number of security force personnel ringed the site where the aircraft had crashed.
“It was like lightning. The flames erupted from inside the school, and then there were wails of a fire service vehicle,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a resident of Wuyan.
After the crash, locals rushed out of their houses, but they were barred from moving towards the place. Residents said that they heard gunshot-like sounds at around 2 am and within nearly one hour, the whole area was sealed. They added that they came out at night and stayed awake throughout. Children were particularly scared after the incident.
“The buildings shook. The school on which the aircraft fell was in flames. Branches of the Chinar tree were also burnt as the wreckage fell on it,” said Suhail Ahmad, another resident.
A fire tender remained stationed inside a local shrine complex compound, whose gate was locked to prevent any civilian entry inside. The road to the school was sealed with a plastic rope blocking the movement of the people.
A heavy number of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were seen turning away people from the site. Armoured vehicles of the Border Security Force (BSF) were also seen crisscrossing the road as residents from several nearby areas, including Moomipora, Androos and Konibal, came to the spot. A man was seen pleading with the security force personnel to allow him to visit the workshop where he had left his vehicle for repairs, but was turned away.
“There are some 700 students who study in the school. The building has been partially damaged. It is an old school which has now been damaged. Our children can’t attend the school for weeks now. It is a private school and the students up to 10th class study here,” informed Mehrajudin, another resident.
“There was a series of gunshot-like sounds that we heard. We were terrified. Our children couldn't sleep through the night,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a local shopkeeper.
The area is heavily infested with the presence of security installations, including a training centre and a police colony
some miles away. Residents pointed towards the burnt Chinar tree and ashes on the road as part of the aircraft wreckage.
An elderly man, Haji Ghulam Hassan, came from a nearby neighborhood which is some 1 km away to see what had happened. “It was a very loud explosion, and we are worried,” he said.
Around the site, security force personnel in black uniforms and gun-wielding personnel were seen on the road. Following the incident, children in the vicinity were seen at home and on the roadside as residents said that schools here will remain shut.
