OPINION EDITORIAL ON HERITAGE CREATIVE BEATS INTERALIA WIDE ANGLE OTHER VIEW ART SPACE

Collateral Damage: The Unseen Cost of War

For a long time, wars have been justified with the argument that collateral damage is unavoidable. Military strategists and political leaders often describe it as a small and unfortunate side effect of a larger battle between armed forces. However, recent conflicts across the world have exposed a painful truth: collateral damage is no longer small or incidental, it has become the main story of war. The greatest victims today are not soldiers on battlefields, but ordinary, innocent human beings caught in the fire.

In modern warfare, the common civilian has become the biggest casualty. Homes built over decades of sweat and sacrifice are destroyed in a matter of seconds by drones, missiles, or airstrikes guided by advanced technology and artificial intelligence. A house is not just a building; it is a lifetime of savings, dreams, memories, and security for a family. When a home is destroyed, it wipes out more than walls and furniture, it destroys the future of children, the stability of families, and the dignity of human life. In recent conflicts in regions like Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Yemen, entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, leaving thousands of families homeless overnight. Children who once dreamed of becoming doctors, engineers, or teachers now struggle just to survive.

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule: A Light That Still Shows India the Way

HERITAGE AT RISK: THE CASE OF POONCH FORT 

Together, let us empower our Nari Shakti !

Another major casualty of war is the destruction of institutions that build civilized societies. Schools and universities, which shape the future of nations, are often damaged or turned into shelters or military positions. Hospitals and medical research centers, which exist to save lives, become targets or are forced to shut down due to lack of resources and safety. When hospitals are bombed or rendered non-functional, the consequences are devastating. Patients cannot receive treatment, surgeries are delayed, and basic medical........

© Kashmir Images