Hundreds evacuated from Jammu & Kashmir border areas as Pakistani shelling intensifies

In a major escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani shelling resulted in the death of at least 12 people, including four children and two women, and left over 50 others injured. The shelling targeted forward villages in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region and the Baramulla and Kupwara areas in north Kashmir. The artillery and mortar attacks began on Wednesday morning, causing significant damage to civilian properties and forcing authorities to evacuate residents to safer zones.

The shelling came shortly after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The strikes were a direct response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists. As the situation escalated, the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir began evacuating civilians, with many residents being relocated to temporary shelters established by the government.

Liaqat Ali, a resident of Jorian village near the IB, confirmed that despite no shelling directly affecting his village, he and other villagers were instructed to move to the ITI College in R.S. Pura for safety. "We have been told to shift to ITI College in R S Pura where necessary arrangements have been made by the government," Ali said. His village, which has over 1,000 residents, has previously suffered from similar shelling, which has led to the destruction of properties. Many residents earn their livelihoods from selling milk and dairy products.

Residents in other affected areas, such as Gagrian and Pragwal near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector, also received instructions to seek shelter. Munshi Ram, a local resident from Pragwal, shared that authorities had advised people to either stay in government accommodations or with relatives temporarily. "It is safe to move out for the time being till the situation normalises," he said, highlighting the concern over the security of those living near the border.

As evacuations continued, some residents in areas like Mankote in Poonch faced more immediate dangers. Mohd Arshid, a resident of Mankote, recounted the harrowing experience of waiting for the shelling to cease before relocating his family. A woman was killed and several others, including a minor, were injured in the shelling. In other areas, such as Poonch, people were seen making their way to safer zones on their own, as the government mobilized its resources to assist those displaced by the violence.

The local administration has assured that it is doing everything necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of displaced residents. Efforts are focused on setting up temporary shelters, with particular attention to the needs of women and children. Meanwhile, political leaders have condemned the cross-border shelling, calling for stronger action to secure the safety of civilians living along the borders.