Srinagar, May 17, 2025 – Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the border area in the Tangdhar Sector on Saturday to evaluate the extensive damage caused by unprovoked heavy shelling from Pakistan. The shelling, which targeted civilian areas, resulted in significant destruction of homes, commercial properties, and infrastructure, prompting urgent action from the local administration.
During his visit, Lt Governor Sinha interacted with affected residents to understand their grievances and assess the ground situation firsthand. “Many houses and commercial properties here have been damaged due to the adversarial shelling,” Sinha stated, as reported by ANI. He emphasized that the administration has already conducted a preliminary damage assessment and provided immediate assistance to those impacted. However, he acknowledged that the current aid is insufficient to address the scale of the destruction.
To ensure long-term recovery, Sinha directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and senior officers to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. “A few people are still left to be rehabilitated. But I think this help is not enough,” he said. The plan aims to address the needs of displaced residents and rebuild damaged infrastructure, with a formal request to be submitted to the Government of India (GoI) for additional support.
The recent escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) followed Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling after India’s Operation Sindoor, a military offensive targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The shelling, described as some of the heaviest in recent years, caused widespread panic, forcing residents in Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, and Rajouri to seek refuge in underground bunkers or evacuate to safer areas.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also visited the affected regions, underscored the need for individual bunkers to protect border residents. “The government will compensate the people after completing the damage assessment,” Abdullah assured, highlighting the resilience of locals amidst the crisis. The administration is also expediting efforts to clear unexploded shells and provide relief measures, including medical aid and compensation for livestock losses.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has prioritized the safety and rehabilitation of border communities, with over 9,500 bunkers already constructed along the LoC. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo confirmed that more bunkers will be built to safeguard residents from future cross-border hostilities.
As the ceasefire holds, the focus remains on rebuilding lives and restoring normalcy in the shelling-affected areas. The proposed rehabilitation plan is expected to address immediate needs while laying the foundation for sustainable recovery in the Tangdhar Sector and other border regions.
