Border villages in J&K on high alert
Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, May 06 (KINS): Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, residents of border areas in Jammu and Kashmir are bracing for a possible escalation.
Locals have begun cleaning bunkers, laying bedding, and stocking emergency supplies in preparation for any eventuality.
In Jammu and Kashmir, over 10,000 bunkers have been built along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB), many located within 0 to 3 kilometers of the border. These small underground shelters, constructed primarily for civilian safety, are designed to accommodate 6 to 10 people and are reinforced with thick concrete walls and minimal ventilation to provide protection during shelling.
While these bunkers have largely remained unused since India and Pakistan announced a renewed ceasefire agreement in February 2021, the recent rise in tensions has prompted residents to prepare them once again.
Across many villages, residents have begun cleaning the bunkers, laying bedding, and stocking emergency supplies. Meanwhile, farmers are harvesting crops ahead of schedule to avoid potential losses if hostilities break out.
“Nobody knows what will happen next. We have decided to prepare the underground bunkers so that we can save ourselves in case there is shelling or firing from across the border,” said Balbir Kour, former sarpanch of Treva village in the R.S. Pura sector of Jammu.
Another resident, Sanjau from Reasi in Jammu, echoed the sentiment: “Nobody wants war, but we have to prepare for any emergency. If there is shelling, we can at least hide ourselves in the bunkers.”
In villages like R.S. Pura, Samba, Kathua, Poonch, and Rajouri, similar scenes of determination and readiness are unfolding. People are seen cleaning bunkers, while some men work hurriedly to finish harvesting wheat crops.
However, the situation remains starkly different for many border villages in the Kashmir Valley itself. In areas like Balkote, Hajipeer, and Uri in North Kashmir, bunkers have not been constructed, leaving residents exposed to potential danger.
“During the 2020 shelling, at least five people lost their lives here. Now, tensions are rising again, but there are still no facilities like bunkers for us,” Mohammad Amin, a resident of Balkote, told news agency KINS.(KINS)
