Who Will Help Me Get Ready For School Now: Sumbal Woman’s 10-Year-Old Son
Sumbal: Abida Kounsar, 45, mother of three with eldest of siblings being ten-year-old, succumbed to her injuries which she had sustained in a grenade blast at crowded flea market here on November 3.
Abida was one of twelve people injured in the grenade explosion near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) here. What should have been a routine shopping day turned tragic for her family as the grenade hurled by militants missed their purported target, a CRPF mobile bunker parked at the TRC juncture which was abuzz with the flea market customers. Caught in the blast, Abida, wife of Zubair Ahmad Lone of Sumbal Bandipora, sustained critical injuries and was rushed to SMHS hospital.
Despite the best efforts of doctors’, Abida passed away on Tuesday, thus losing ten-day battle for life.
News of her passing spread quickly, and the people gathered to mourn the demise of the woman known for her kindness and resilience. Most women were seen beating their chests in grief, remembering Abida as a devoted mother and hardworking wife.
Her elder son, Huzair Zubair (10), visibly devastated, spoke tearfully to this reporter while waiting for his mother’s funeral prayers to be offered.
“My mom won’t be there for me anymore. Who will help me get ready for school now?” Zubair says as tears trickle down his face.
When asked why so many people were gathered, he softly replied, “It’s my mom’s funeral; they’re waiting to pray for her.” His voice broke, and he struggled to hold back his emotions to speak further.
Recalling the tragic incident, Abida’s brother, Waseem Raja, said. “I reached SMHS Hospital only 20 minutes after I heard the news. Despite surgery, doctors later confirmed that Abida’s injuries were too severe.” The blast, he says, had caused a “catastrophic brain injury” to her.
“Dr. Abdullah promised full support and even tweeted about it. He mentioned assistance for her children’s rehabilitation. I don’t want money—I only want justice and formal support for her children’s future,” Waseem said.
While appealing for an end to violence, Waseem called on authorities to ensure a secure future for Abida’s children. “We don’t need financial aid, but I don’t want these children left vulnerable to seek help from office to office,” he said.
Abida Kounsar is survived by her husband, three children: Huzair Zubair (10), Abeeya Zubair (4), and Mohammad Hafi (2).