At least ten civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed and 45 others injured after Pakistan Army launched heavy artillery fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The overnight shelling targeted various areas, with a mortar shell hitting a woman’s house in the Mankote area, resulting in her death. Her 13-year-old daughter was also injured in the attack. The shelling caused massive destruction, with homes and vehicles in several areas also damaged.
The victims have been identified as Mohd Adil, Saleem Hussain, Ruby Kour, Mohd Zain (10), Mohd Akram (55), Amrik Singh, Ranjit Singh, Zoya Khan (12), Mohd Rafi, and Mohd Iqbal, all residents of Poonch.
“A woman was killed when a mortar shell fired from across the border exploded in her house, while her 13-year-old daughter suffered injuries,” sources said.
In addition to the Mankote area, shelling was reported in Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, Laam, Manjakote, and Gambhir Brahmana in Rajouri district. The Indian Army responded to the shelling with appropriate retaliatory action, and the situation remained tense throughout the night.
“14 people suffered injuries in Poonch, and four others, including two women, were injured in Thandikassi area of Rajouri,” officials added.
Due to the ongoing violence, schools, colleges, and educational institutions across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch districts have been closed for the day.
“In view of the prevailing situation, all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch will remain closed today,” stated Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar on X.
The heavy shelling also led to the closure of Jammu Airport (IXJ) for civil flights, with officials advising passengers to check flight statuses before planning their journey.
In response to the escalating situation and recent violence, India had earlier launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, carrying out “precision missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”. The operation was aimed at “dismantling terror networks responsible for planning and executing attacks against India, including the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.”
“India has demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, and these actions are non-escalatory, focusing only on eliminating terrorist threats,” the Defence Ministry stated in a release.
Tensions have escalated sharply following the Pahalgam attack, and the ceasefire violations by Pakistan are continuing despite calls for restraint. Locals have reported that heavy shelling was also heard in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Uri sectors of Kashmir, further adding to the growing instability in the region.
