World
India
Multiple residential buildings and religious sites were damaged in heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan across Kupwara, Poonch, and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night. The intense attack, which started at 9 PM and lasted till 6 AM, forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, while several took shelter in underground bunkers.
Visuals from Kupwara and Poonch showed damaged homes, shattered windows, and broken rooftops. Among the affected sites was a Hanuman temple in Poonch. Locals expressed anger over Pakistan’s targeting of civilian and religious structures, condemning the attacks as inhumane.
“I can’t understand what Pakistan thinks and does. This is not humanity,” said a resident from Poonch whose house was hit. “If it weren’t for our Armed Forces, we wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully at night.”
Another resident criticized Pakistan for targeting religious places, saying, “The Pakistan Army is targeting gurudwaras, masjids, temples… this is very bad. We stand with the Indian Army and the Government of India.”
Rajouri residents along the Line of Control (LOC) have begun migrating to safer locations due to the ongoing shelling. One local shared the terrifying ordeal: “Last night, around 200 of us hid in a bunker. Children were scared. Houses were damaged, cattle died, and many are still trapped. We’re trying to leave but don’t know where we’ll end up.”
Another villager said the shelling destroyed homes and vehicles: “We spent the whole night in a bunker. A couple of houses and vehicles have been damaged. The government sent a bus for evacuation, but we don’t know what’s next.”
Meanwhile, Indian defense officials reported that the shelling was part of a broader attack involving drones and missiles, which also targeted western border regions in Rajasthan. The S-400 air defense system successfully intercepted several missiles, preventing major damage.
The attack follows India’s Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this week to strike terror camps in Pakistan, in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir, where 26 tourists lost their lives.
As the situation remains tense, international communities have urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and engage diplomatically to avoid further escalation.
