NEW DELHI: The initial civilian casualties in Poonch due to the relentless mortar fire and shelling by Pakistani forces occurred while the evacuation of residents from border villages was still underway, a government source said. Evacuations, officials told TOI, have since been stepped up not only in Poonch but also other border villages spread across Uri, Baramulla, Karnah, Tangdhar, Mendhar and Rajouri in J&K, all of which came under shelling on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Pakistan army had resorted to heavy mortar fire and shelling at several points in J&K close to LoC/international border soon after Indian armed forces struck terror facilities across PoK and Pakistan during the intervening night of May 6 and 7.
Though Poonch town - which is just 2-3 km from the LoC, as is Rawalakot in PoK - has traditionally never been targeted with shelling, this time was an exception.
The Pakistani forces opened heavy mortar fire, hitting civilian targets in the main Poonch town. This caused more than a dozen casualties, essentially border residents that were yet to be moved to bunkers of safer places inside. Local hospitals reported many more as injured.
At its briefing here on Thursday, the ministry of external affairs put the overall toll of civilians killed in shelling from Pakistan, at 16, and the injured at 59.
TOI has learnt that though the evacuation plans were drawn up in advance, with community bunkers readied across several border villages and schools and other buildings in areas further from the border earmarked to accommodate displaced border residents, the deployment of additional troops and equipment at LoC in anticipation of an escalation by Pakistan had been going on for the last few days.
Civilian population was yet to be fully evacuated when Pakistani forces struck with mortar fire and shelling at several points along the LoC/IB. The Indian forces - Army and BSF - responded to the provocation with heavy retaliatory fire.
Over the past couple of days, the J&K administration has ensured the evacuation of a large number of border residents, relocating them in community bunkers or government buildings like schools and halls, till the border is safer.
"The local authorities in the border districts are connected 24x7 to the integrated control room to coordinate evacuation, emergency response, blackouts, medical assistance and maintenance of essential supplies and services," a senior J&K government official told TOI.
Pakistan army had resorted to heavy mortar fire and shelling at several points in J&K close to LoC/international border soon after Indian armed forces struck terror facilities across PoK and Pakistan during the intervening night of May 6 and 7.
Though Poonch town - which is just 2-3 km from the LoC, as is Rawalakot in PoK - has traditionally never been targeted with shelling, this time was an exception.
The Pakistani forces opened heavy mortar fire, hitting civilian targets in the main Poonch town. This caused more than a dozen casualties, essentially border residents that were yet to be moved to bunkers of safer places inside. Local hospitals reported many more as injured.
At its briefing here on Thursday, the ministry of external affairs put the overall toll of civilians killed in shelling from Pakistan, at 16, and the injured at 59.
TOI has learnt that though the evacuation plans were drawn up in advance, with community bunkers readied across several border villages and schools and other buildings in areas further from the border earmarked to accommodate displaced border residents, the deployment of additional troops and equipment at LoC in anticipation of an escalation by Pakistan had been going on for the last few days.
Civilian population was yet to be fully evacuated when Pakistani forces struck with mortar fire and shelling at several points along the LoC/IB. The Indian forces - Army and BSF - responded to the provocation with heavy retaliatory fire.
Over the past couple of days, the J&K administration has ensured the evacuation of a large number of border residents, relocating them in community bunkers or government buildings like schools and halls, till the border is safer.
"The local authorities in the border districts are connected 24x7 to the integrated control room to coordinate evacuation, emergency response, blackouts, medical assistance and maintenance of essential supplies and services," a senior J&K government official told TOI.
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