Story: Farhan Tariq
An explosion on the night of October 29 in the village of Bandi, located in the Bagh district of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, claimed the lives of four members of the same family. In the aftermath, the scattered bodies, holes punched into walls and household utensils, and blood splattered everywhere bore witness to the sheer intensity of the tragedy.
Salma Begum, one of the first women to reach the scene that night, is still gripped by fear when she recalls what she witnessed. For her, this was not merely an explosion; it was the harrowing experience of finding her own family members in such a state—a trauma that defies description.
Salma Begum recounts that the sound of the blast was heard between 6:00 and 7:00 PM. Initially, she had no idea what had transpired inside the house. Upon arriving at the scene, she was confronted with scenes of devastation amidst the smoke—sights that left her completely shaken.
“We thought the house had caught fire.”
According to Salma Begum, when she reached the house following the explosion, smoke had filled the space, and bodies lay scattered about. She notes that those who perished included her grandmother, her aunt, and her cousin.
Recalling that moment, she says:
“When we arrived, there was thick smoke everywhere. Bodies were lying scattered. There was blood all over the place. It was a truly horrific scene. We assumed the house had caught fire. We ran out, shouting for everyone to leave the house—to just let it burn.” According to her, they could not initially determine the actual cause of the devastation in the house. The situation that unfolded following the explosion led them to believe that a fire might have broken out.
Their aunt was unrecognizable
For Salma Begum, the most harrowing sight was seeing the body of her aunt. She recounted that the explosion was so intense that her aunt’s face and body were severely mangled, making her nearly impossible to recognize.
She explains that flesh from the affected parts of her aunt’s body had to be gathered and placed into plastic bags. Blood was splattered everywhere inside the house—even the kitchen utensils had holes torn through them.
Salma Begum mentions that her grandmother had sustained a head injury and was bleeding. A young girl’s shoulders were also severely mangled, while other family members bore visible, gaping wounds on their bodies.
These scenes were so traumatic for her that, even while describing them, she finds herself reliving that exact moment—the moment she felt utterly helpless upon seeing her loved ones in such a state.
A cousin lying unconscious outside the kitchen
One of her cousins, who had been injured in the blast, lay unconscious just outside the kitchen. According to Salma Begum, the chaos inside the house was such that, at first, no one could comprehend what was happening.
With the bodies of family members scattered about and an unconscious, injured cousin nearby, it was impossible to discern what to do first or how to respond amidst the smoke, blood, and total destruction. The details shared by Salma Begum highlight the human dimensions of this tragedy—aspects that cannot be captured merely by citing a death toll. The sudden loss of family members has left the survivors in a state of profound shock; the intensity of this trauma is evident in the accounts provided by those who were present at the scene.
A Household Powered by Wood; No Gas Supply
Regarding the cause of the explosion, Salma Begum points to a crucial detail: the affected household relied on wood for cooking and other daily needs—there was no gas connection on the premises.
She notes that, given the absence of gas, it was difficult to fathom how such an explosion could have occurred. Ultimately, however, it will be up to the relevant authorities—through their investigations and the analysis of technical evidence—to determine the true cause of the blast.
This incident, which took place in the village of Bandi in Bagh, has resulted in an irreparable loss for the family. The deaths of four individuals, the condition of the survivor who sustained injuries, and the widespread destruction within the home all bear witness to the sheer scale of this tragedy.
In Salma Begum’s own words, the scene that night is etched in memory: smoke, scattered bodies, blood everywhere, and the utter helplessness of witnessing one’s loved ones in such a state.
These are sights that those who witnessed them may never be able to forget.
Disclaimer: The eyewitness featured in this report agreed to speak to the media on the condition of anonymity. To honor this request and protect their identity, their face has been obscured. — Kashgil News
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