Srinagar/Jammu, May 11: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday asked border villages residents, who were evacuated to safer places in view of cross border shelling by Pakistan, not to rush back to homes as they are yet to sanitize and clear these areas of any unexplored shells.
More than two lakh residents of villages close to the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border were evacuated to safer places amid intense Pakistani artillery and mortar shelling from May 7 onwards owing to vulnerability of their habitations in both divisions of Kashmir and Jammu.
“Do not return to frontline villages. Lives are at risk as unexplored munitions remain (scattered) after Pakistani shelling,” said an advisory issued by the police in Kashmir Valley.
Bomb disposal squads will be sent to the affected areas to sanitize and clear the villages of any unexplored shells, which can lead to loss of human lives, it said.
“As many as 41 lives were lost in explosions of leftover shells near the LoC in 2023 alone,” the advisory read, highlighting the dangers of civilians rushing back to villages.
In Jammu region, the police vehicles fitted with a public address system were seen making rounds in the worst-hit Poonch district and asking people not to touch any suspicious object lying at their residential houses, compounds or open fields.
“People returning to their homes are advised to be cautious and immediately inform police or the nearest security camp about any suspicious object, which could be dangerous to human life,” the police said.
The Poonch district accounted for the highest 20 of the total 27 fatalities with over 50 others injured since Wednesday, shortly after India carried out Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
However, hours later New Delhi accused Islamabad of breaching it.
In a late night media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with “seriousness and responsibility”.
No ceasefire violation reported overnight
There was a semblance of normalcy in Kashmir valley as residents witnessed the first night in six days without the sound of aircraft, missiles and drones flying overhead.
“There was no ceasefire violation reported from any sector along the Line of Control in Kashmir after 11 pm on Saturday,” officials said here.
Shahjahan Dar, a resident of Rawalpora, said, “It has been a while since we slept well. We are thankful to Almighty and everyone else who played a role in ending the war.” A large number of people who had migrated from border areas to relatively safer areas, however, want to wait a couple of days before returning home.
“We saw drones and rockets flying all over last night even after ceasefire was announced. We are praying that this ceasefire is permanent but we want to wait couple of days,” Abdul Aziz, a resident of Uri, said.
Dozens of drones were seen flying over Kashmir valley on Saturday evening in violation of the ceasefire agreement. (PTI)
