Locals move to safer areas amid heavy pounding in border towns

Amid intense border shelling in villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir and Jammu’s Poonch region, large numbers of residents have migrated to safer areas as tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.

Late on Tuesday night, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling, targeting several villages along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu region, as well as in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Baramulla districts.

Mukhtar Ahmad, a resident of Tangdhar, one of the worst-hit areas, told The Tribune that many locals, including children and the elderly, had left for Kupwara due to the deteriorating situation.

“There is a lot of fear among people here after what has happened last night,” he said, adding that many families relocated to Kupwara town on Wednesday following the clashes.

In Bandipora district’s Gurez town, also situated near the LoC, numerous residents, including hoteliers, vacated the area on Wednesday morning. Although Gurez did not witness any firing on Tuesday night, the atmosphere remained tense.

“There was fear among people… we decided to go back to Bandipora, because shelling can start anytime in Gurez,” said Mehmood Ahmad, who runs a hotel in the town. He said dozens of people had left for Bandipora amid the prevailing tension.

Similar conditions were reported in towns like Uri in north Kashmir and across Jammu’s Poonch and Rajouri districts. Following continuous shelling by Pakistan in these areas overnight, large numbers of residents migrated to safer zones.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds were seen leaving their villages in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. While some moved in with relatives, others were relocated with administrative support.

The Poonch district administration said it had already arranged for the relocation of residents from vulnerable areas in anticipation of such developments. In addition, residents from villages along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts also began to leave. Although the IB remained quiet, locals feared the situation could worsen in a similar manner to the LoC.

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha directed the Deputy Commissioners of all border districts to shift villagers from vulnerable locations to safer areas.Sinha posted on X, stating that he had reviewed the situation in the border districts with senior officials.