Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited Kupwara to meet civilians injured in Pakistan’s recent cross-border shelling, which followed India’s Operation Sindoor — the precision military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The Chief Minister visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara, where several civilians were being treated for injuries sustained in the shelling. He also inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and toured damaged areas across Kupwara and Uri, expressing solidarity with affected families.
“By God’s grace, we haven’t lost any lives here, but there has been substantial damage to homes, shops, and religious sites like a madrasa,” Abdullah said. “The district administration will complete a damage assessment within a day or two, and the government will compensate the victims accordingly.”
Abdullah acknowledged that the immunity bunkers built earlier had long gone unused but emphasized the need to now expand such infrastructure.
“We will now work towards building individual bunkers for households in LoC-bordering villages to ensure better preparedness,” he said.
Praise for Local Resilience
In Tangdhar, another area heavily affected by Pakistani shelling, CM Abdullah met residents and praised their “remarkable courage” in the face of escalating tensions and destruction.
“Their resilience is inspiring,” the CM’s Office posted on X. “The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope.”
Background: Operation Sindoor and Ceasefire Understanding
The visit comes days after India conducted Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan in response to the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam. Pakistan responded with indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas across Poonch, Kupwara, and Uri, damaging homes, religious places, and schools.
After sustained Indian counter-action and diplomatic engagement, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire understanding through a DGMO-level dialogue, leading to a return of normalcy in the region.
Locals, despite bearing the brunt of the hostilities, reaffirmed their support for the Indian Armed Forces, standing resilient against Pakistan’s provocations.