Overnight shelling by Pak troops causes extensive damage in Poonch, Rajouri

Jammu: Overnight shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, as well as other parts of the bordering Jammu region has resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructure and loss of lives.
Reports said that this escalation, occurring during the intervening night of May 8-9, follows a series of aggressive actions by Pakistan in response to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, a targeted strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.
Reports indicate that Pakistani forces resorted to heavy artillery and mortar shelling, targeting civilian areas in Poonch and Rajouri, with explosions heard near the LoC as early as Friday morning.
The Police Lines in Poonch came under direct attack, though no casualties were reported on the Indian side in that specific incident.
Civilian homes, schools, and religious sites, including a Gurdwara, a mosque, and a Geeta Bhawan, have sustained severe damage. Over the past few days, at least 16 innocent lives have been lost, including women and children, with 59 others injured across the affected regions, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Mendhar.
The shelling has caused widespread panic, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate to safer areas.
Markets in Poonch have shut down, and educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch remain closed.
A complete blackout was enforced in Jammu on Friday morning, adding to the distress of the local population.
Border Security Force (BSF) have responded in a measured and proportionate manner, successfully thwarting infiltration attempts, including one in Samba district on May 8, 2025, and neutralizing multiple Pakistani drones.
Local voices, including residents and analysts, have expressed frustration over the lack of timely evacuation efforts, with some noting that the scale of shelling in Poonch is unprecedented since the 1971 Indo-Pak War. The Indian government has prioritized the safety of civilians, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah directing immediate evacuations along the LoC and International Border