Over 1.25 Lakh Residents Remain in Shelter as Bomb Disposal Squads Prepare to Clear Unexploded Shells
Srinagar, May 11 – Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have issued a stern advisory urging residents of border villages not to return home yet, citing the threat of unexploded munitions following recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan.The warning comes in the aftermath of the evacuation of more than 1.25 lakh villagers from frontline areas in Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara districts, where intense shelling posed severe risks to civilian lives.
“Do not return to frontline villages. Lives are at risk as unexplored munitions remain scattered after Pakistani shelling,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police stated in a public advisory on Sunday.
Bomb Disposal Teams to Begin Clearance Operations
Authorities emphasized that bomb disposal squads will be deployed in the affected regions to detect and neutralize any unexploded ordnance. The advisory underscored the serious danger posed by leftover shells, recalling that 41 civilians lost their lives near the Line of Control (LoC) in 2023 alone due to such explosions.The Poonch district was identified as the most impacted area, accounting for 18 of the 25 fatalities reported since Wednesday, when Operation Sindoor was launched. The Indian military operation targeted nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.
Ceasefire Agreement Followed by Alleged Violation
On Saturday, India and Pakistan announced an agreement to halt all military actions across land, air, and sea, effective immediately. However, the situation deteriorated quickly as India accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire just hours later.During a late-night media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned the violations and urged Pakistan to handle the matter with "seriousness and responsibility."
The situation remains volatile, and officials have reiterated that safety must take precedence over any urge to return to homes until complete sanitization of the affected areas is conducted.