Healing touch: Rahul to sponsor education of 22 children who lost their parents in shelling by Pakistan

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will sponsor the education of 22 children who lost either one or both parents in the Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) during Operation Sindoor in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra, who reached Rajouri on a three-day tour of the region, told reporters late on Monday, 28 July, that there were many civilian casualties and damage to properties in Poonch and Rajouri (between 7 May and 10 May) in Pakistani shelling. Rahul Gandhi visited Poonch in the aftermath of the devastating shelling and visited the bereaved families. "He asked us to prepare a list of school-going children who lost one or both parents, especially the breadwinners," Karra said.

He said the party has a list of 22 such children in the Poonchdistrict alone. More children might be included at the end of the three-day visit.

Poonch district alone accounted for 13 civilian deaths among 28 fatalities in the Pakistani shelling and drone attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in May in retaliation to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead.

Karra said he will be visiting Poonch to hand over the financial aid sent by the Leader of the Opposition for the affected children.

"This is an initiative aimed at extending a helping hand to the children so that their studies are not impacted," Karra said.

Heartwarming gestures by LoP Rahul Gandhi Ji ❤️

When the PM Modi has refused to meet the families of victims of poonch, RaGa has adopted 22 kids who lost their parents in Pakistani shelling.

Now, RG will take care of their educational expenditure. 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/4r8np2IHt3

— Venisha G Kiba (@KibaVenisha) July 29, 2025

A strategic balance sheet after Operation Sindoor