The Indian Army on Thursday carried out a door-to-door assistance drive in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, focusing on areas near the Line of Control (LoC) that were recently impacted by intense Pakistani shelling.
As part of this humanitarian outreach, Army personnel distributed essential supplies—including medicines and ration kits—to civilians affected by the cross-border firing that followed Operation Sindoor. This operation was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, including that of a Nepali national.
Troops from the Army’s Romeo Force also engaged with local residents to assess their needs and provide assurance amid the tense security environment.
A local resident from Poonch shared how the Army’s efforts had given people the courage to remain in their homes despite the danger.
“We stayed here even during the war-like situation. The Army that fought for us, we stayed here because of them, as they are fighting for us and are without their families. It’s because of them, we are living today,” the resident said.
Mohammad Asif, another local whose home was destroyed during the shelling on May 9, described the dire situation his family is facing.
“Heavy shelling had taken place here, which caused heavy damage to our house. There is no scope for us to live here. So, we live in the house of our neighbour. The Indian Army has come here. They helped us a lot, provided us with medicines. They told us to tell them if we were facing any problems. We are thankful to them for coming to check on us…The damage (to the house) occurred on May 9…Indian Army is fighting at the border and helping us. We are thankful to them,” Asif told media.
Tragedy struck further on May 7, when a shell fired by Pakistani forces landed behind Christ School in Poonch, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. The shell struck the home of two school students, both of whom lost their lives, while their parents were seriously injured.
Another shell hit a nearby Christian convent run by the Mother of Carmel congregation, damaging water tanks and destroying solar panels. During the shelling, several priests, nuns, school staff, and residents sought shelter in an underground hall beneath Christ School.
The Indian Armed Forces responded decisively, targeting several Pakistani military positions across the border. The exchange of fire eventually ceased after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart, leading to a mutual agreement to halt further military action.