Residents in border areas seek urgent construction of bunkers

In the aftermath of deadly shelling by Pakistan that claimed over 20 lives in the border districts of J&K, residents of frontier hamlets along the International Border and the Line of Control are demanding swift construction of protective bunkers in their villages.

Last week’s shelling along the LoC in North Kashmir marked a level of intensity not witnessed in recent years. At Batapora village of Kupwara, six houses were destroyed after catching fire due to the shelling. Locals say there is a severe shortage of habitable bunkers.

“We have one bunker, but it’s not in a livable condition. For years, we believed peace had returned and that bunkers were no longer necessary. Now there is an urgent need for more bunkers in the border town. We never know when the situation might deteriorate again,” said Tasveer Ahmad, a local resident.

In Uri, Imran Ahmad, a resident of Kamalkote, said, “There are hardly any bunkers in the town. For the past few years, people believed peace was here to stay. But after last week’s events, villagers are demanding more bunkers in every locality.”

Acknowledged the growing demand for individual bunkers, CM Omar Abdullah “Community bunkers were constructed earlier, but no new ones have been built for years. Wherever I visited, people demanded individual bunkers. The government will adopt a policy to address this need.”

In the Jammu region, residents of Poonch were among the worst affected. Many were forced to migrate to safer locations. As they attempt to rebuild their lives, they are now demanding protective shelters.

Aijaz Ahmed of Poonch, who relocated to Jammu, said, “Had there been bunkers capable of withstanding the shelling, we would have stayed near our homes. Now, I fear returning to Poonch.”

Ramesh Kumar Sharma, a resident of Akhnoor, echoed the sentiment. “In light of the recent shelling, individual bunkers should be constructed for every family. We need shelters near our homes so we can immediately take cover when shelling starts.”

On Wednesday, Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Environment & Ecology, and Tribal Affairs, visited Poonch and advocated for mandatory bunkers along the LoC.

The Minister also directed sub-divisional Officers to undertake detailed planning for the restoration of affected public infrastructure. He emphasised the need for swift action to restore normalcy and ensure the continuity of essential public services.