Srinagar/Jammu, May 7, KDC: In one of the deadliest escalations in recent times along the Line of Control (LoC), at least 10 civilians were killed and over 50 others—including children and a paramilitary personnel—were injured in intense cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Uri sectors on Wednesday.
In the Poonch district, heavy mortar and small arms fire from across the border claimed the lives of 10 civilians and left around 40 others injured.
Reports reaching Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com said that the shelling hit several villages, sparking panic and forcing residents to flee to safer areas. Officials said the situation remains tense but under control, with security forces on high alert and emergency services mobilized across the affected areas.
Some of those killed in the Poonch by Pakistani shelling have been identified as Ayan (14), Aruba (12), Mohammad Akram (40), Qazi Mohammad Iqbal (40), Amrik Singh (55), Ranjeet Singh (48), and Balvinder Kaur (33). The identities of the remaining deceased and Injured are being verified, while hospitals continue to receive the injured amid fears of a further rise in casualties.
In north Kashmir’s Uri sector of Baramulla district, 11 people, including four minors and a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable, were injured after Pakistani shells landed in civilian areas such as Salamabad, Kalgie, and Gingal. CISF constable Manoj Kumar received minor injuries at Gingal area.
The shelling in Uri also resulted in damage to at least 23 civilian structures, including 16 residential houses and seven vehicles. Several homes suffered broken walls and shattered windows as mortars exploded in close proximity.
“It was a nightmare. We were forced to rush our children into bunkers as the shelling intensified,” said a resident from the Salamabad area.
Local administrations in both areas have launched emergency relief measures and damage assessments.
This Pakistani shelling marks a severe breach of the February 2021 ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, which had largely held until now.
Officials said the situation remains tense but under control, and authorities are keeping a close watch on developments along the LoC.
Earlier, India on Wednesday said it has launched military strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir targeting terrorist infrastructure in retaliation against the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The Indian Army said nine sites were targeted in the strike under ‘Operation Sindoor’. (KDC)
