Srinagar,May 7, 2025 – The Jammu and Kashmir administration has initiated the evacuation of residents from vulnerable areas along the Line of Control to safer locations, following heightened tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, closely monitoring the situation, directed District Commissioners to ensure the safe relocation of villagers, providing boarding, lodging, food, medicare, and transportation to those affected. The move comes as heavy shelling and cross-border skirmishes have intensified, raising fears among border communities.
The evacuation targets villages in districts like Poonch, Rajouri, and Baramulla, where residents have faced recurring threats from ceasefire violations and militant activities.
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor, targeting militant sites across the LoC, have escalated India-Pakistan tensions. Pakistani troops have breached ceasefire agreements, firing on Indian posts, prompting retaliatory action. The Indian Army has deployed surveillance drones and intensified search-and-destroy operations in the region, further unsettling border villages. Residents in areas like Silikote, Balkote, and Churanda in the Uri sector have previously been relocated during similar flare-ups, with makeshift camps set up in facilities like the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Uri.
Local voices reflect a mix of fear and resilience. A Karmarha village resident, quoted by ANI, noted, “We’re cleaning bunkers again; there’s fear, but we hope for harmony.” Others have demanded permanent relocation to safer areas, citing the psychological toll of repeated evacuations. The administration’s response includes financial aid for bunker construction and coordination with security agencies like the Border Security Force to strengthen the border security grid. Recent meetings involving J&K DGP RR Swain and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with border state leaders underscore a unified approach to managing the crisis.
The LoC, established under the Simla Agreement of 1972, remains a flashpoint in the Kashmir conflict, with both nations claiming the region. The current evacuations recall past efforts, such as in 2018, when Uri sector villagers were shifted due to Pakistani shelling, and in 2017, when 1,700 people were evacuated from Balakote. The Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System , a three-tiered fencing system, leaves some villages exposed between the fence and the zero line, heightening their vulnerability. Environmentalists warn that ongoing military activity could disrupt fragile ecosystems in the Chenab Valley and Kashmir Valley, while humanitarian concerns linger over the adequacy of relief measures.
However, these posts remain unverified. As the situation evolves, the J&K administration and Indian government remain on high alert, committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen amidst the ongoing cross-border tensions.
