Hundreds of residents along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) here were evacuated to safer zones on Wednesday as authorities chalked out countermeasures to safeguard civilians from Pakistani shelling.
The shelling from across the border started shortly after Indian armed forces carried out missile attacks on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam that had left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
“Though there was no cross-border firing in our village, we have been told to shift to ITI College in R S Pura where necessary arrangements have been made by the government for our lodgment in view of the prevailing tense situation,” Liaqat Ali, a resident of Jorian village near the IB, said.
Ali said the village had suffered immensely and had even been burned to the ground in the past by Pakistani shelling.
“We have been told to move out for our safety, and we are following the directions of the government,” he said, adding the village has a population of more than 1,000, mostly earning their livelihood by selling milk and milk products.
The residents of Gagrian and adjoining villages, including Pragwal near the LoC in Akhnoor sector, said they have also been informed by the authorities to shift to safer places.
“We have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our security forces to secure the borders. A policeman came to the village and asked the people to take shelter either in a government accommodation or at a relative’s house for the time being,” Munshi Ram said.
He said the local residents are the eyes and ears of the security agencies but the prevailing war-like situation has caused a major concern for the people living on the borders.
“It is safe to move out for the time being till the situation normalises,” Ram said.
The officials said the district administration has mobilised all its resources to make necessary arrangements for the convenience of people, especially females, so that they do not face any problem at the temporary shelter homes.
Meanwhile, district Administration Poonch conducted a detailed review of preparedness at various designated shelter camps.
A team of senior officers, including Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), CPO, and Tahsildar Haveli, visited the proposed camp sites to assess the readiness of facilities and ensure all logistic and support systems are operational.
The locations designated as shelter camps for those willing to relocate are Caramel School, Chandak, Dingla University Campus, Ishat ul Uloom Chandak, Higher Secondary School (HSS), Chandak, GHSS Lassana, Government High School (GHS) Sanai, Government Middle School (GMS) Sanai, GHSS Seri Khawaja, Polytechnic College, Sathra.