Rahul Gandhi ‘adopts’ 22 children orphaned by cross-border shelling in Poonch

In a deeply personal gesture of solidarity, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has pledged to “adopt” 22 children who lost their parents in Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor, the military response launched after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

The children, all from the conflict-scarred border district of Poonch, will receive complete financial support for their education until they graduate, according to Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra. “The first instalment of aid will be released on July 30,” Karra announced, adding that the initiative aims to ensure that the children’s education continues uninterrupted despite their devastating losses.

Gandhi had visited Poonch in May to meet families affected by the cross-border hostilities. During his visit, he directed local Congress leaders to identify orphaned children in need of long-term support. A survey followed, with final names verified through government records before the aid plan was set in motion.

Among the young victims was Vihaan Bhargav, killed by shrapnel as his family attempted to flee the town during intense shelling. Others, like 12-year-old twins Urba Fatima and Zain Ali, students of Christ Public School, were also casualties in the brutal violence.

Speaking to students during his visit, Gandhi offered a message of resilience and hope: “I feel very, very proud of you. You miss your little friends. I’m very sorry about that. You may feel afraid now, but don’t worry — everything will go back to normal. Your way of responding should be to study really hard, play really hard, and make many friends in school.”

One of the worst-hit areas during the shelling was Zia ul Aloom, a religious school where several children were injured. Gandhi’s intervention — spanning both empathy and tangible support — has been widely welcomed as a rare example of political outreach translating into direct, sustained impact on the lives of conflict victims.