Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

As residents of areas along the Line of Control and the International border in Jammu and Kashmir begin to pick threads of their lives after facing heavy shelling from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the government is planning to construct bunkers as permanent shelters for residents in case of hostilities recur.

Dr Sajjad Shafi, MLA of Uri, in north Kashmir, said the government is planning one bunker each for up to five families living close to the line of control.

At least 14 persons were killed and nearly 60 others injured in Poonch and North Kashmir’s Kupwara and Uri in the shelling by the Pakistani Army in retaliation to India’s hitting nine terrorist bases of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-toiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Punjab and PoJK between May 7 and 10.

In Poonch, which suffered the most, 13 people, including a brother sister -Zain, 10 and Zoya, 12, lost their lives, while a woman was killed in Uri in North Kashmir.

Zain and Zoya who died in the Pakistani shelling on Poonch

During his visit to Uri, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced a hiked ex-gratia relief for the families of those killed in shelling.

“While no compensation can ever replace a loved one or heal the trauma caused to the family, as a gesture of support and solidarity, ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to families of all the deceased”, Omar Abdulla said while directing authorities to expedite relief and rehabilitation of the families which suffered heavy losses to their homes and shops in the shelling.

The Red Cross has disbursed a relief of Rs 50,000 each to the affected families in Uri, sources said, and BSF and Army have been distributing rations to the affected families. At some places, the Army is also providing cooked meals to displaced families.

For a week, Uri town, on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, wore a deserted look as many residents had fled their homes amid border tension. The residents have since returned to their homes after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

“We (the people of Uri) have to suffer whenever hostilities break out between India and Pakistan,” Dr Sajjad Shafi, told Awaz-The Voice while wishing that the ceasefire continues.

A woman was killed and three others got injured when their car was hit by a shell while they were moving to a safer area during the border tension.

However, Poonch, a town in the Jammu region, faced a bigger onslaught from Pakistan Army. Besides 12 deaths, at least 15 town folks were injured.

Images of destruction in Poonch shared by local legislator Eijaz Jan on X

Last night, there was a huge loss in Poonch. We visited several affected areas and helped relocate many villages to safer locations. It’s a heartbreaking situation. Praying for everyone’s safety and recovery.#PoonchIsBleeding #Poonch pic.twitter.com/FGKRMNQ3ig

— Ajaz Jan (@ajazjan) May 9, 2025

Dr Sajjad Shafi said that at least 458 houses and seven government schools were damaged in the firing.

Dr Sajjad Shafi said that most of the Uri (tehsil) area falls in hard zone (one), as the areas near the LoC have been divided into three zones depending upon the intensity of cross-border shelling.

Meanwhile, BJP delegations led by Ashok Koul, General Secretary, and others, including J&K Wakf Board Chairperson, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, and MLAs, visited the shelling-hit Uri in Baramulla district and Karnah in Kupwara district.

Ashok Koul assured the affected families of rehabilitation, compensation, and justice. “We will raise this matter with the highest authorities to expedite relief and ensure that our brave people in border areas are protected and supported. You are not alone — BJP is your family and will always be there for you in times of crisis,” he added.

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The delegations visited the affected households, listened to the grievances of the people, and personally oversaw the distribution of relief kits containing essential items.

Leader of Opposition in J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, also led a delegation to  Poonch.