Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, May 12, 2025 – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Ajaz Jan, visited Poonch on Monday to meet families devastated by recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan. The visit comes in the wake of intense Pakistani artillery attacks that claimed at least 20 lives and injured over 50 people in the Poonch district alone, marking it the worst-hit area since India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025.
The delegation expressed solidarity with the grieving families, offering condolences and assuring support during this challenging time. Abdullah emphasised the urgent need for constructing bunkers to protect border residents from future attacks, highlighting the state government’s commitment to their safety. “The loss of innocent lives is deeply painful. We are here to stand with the affected families and ensure measures like bunkers are prioritised for their security,” Abdullah stated.
The shelling, which began shortly after India’s missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, has caused widespread destruction in Poonch, Rajouri, and other border areas. Civilian homes, schools, and religious sites, including a gurdwara and a mosque, have been severely damaged, forcing thousands to evacuate to safer locations.
Abdullah’s visit follows a US-mediated ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on May 10, 2025, which halted military actions after four days of escalated drone and missile strikes. However, the Chief Minister expressed regret over the delay in the ceasefire, noting that earlier action could have saved lives, including that of Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa, killed in Rajouri on May 10. “Had this ceasefire come two or three days earlier, precious lives would have been spared,” he told reporters
The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh for the kin of those killed in the shelling, along with relief measures for the injured and displaced. Abdullah also reviewed security and relief efforts in Poonch, stressing the need for robust contingency planning and infrastructure strengthening.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remained calm overnight, with no reported firing from Pakistan, marking a tentative respite after days of violence. Abdullah is expected to visit Rajouri next to continue assessing the impact of the shelling and supporting affected communities.