Vehicles for casualty evacuation kept ready
Srinagar airport shut
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 7: At least six civilians, including three children, were injured and several buildings were damaged after Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling in Tanghdar and Karnah sectors of Kupwara district and Uri since midnight soon after India carried out missile strikes under Operation Sindoor.
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Authorities have kept over 200 buses ready in Baramulla as part of evacuation plan for any overnight casualties in Uri sector and advised residents to turn off lights during night.
They also closed Srinagar Airport for flight operation due to safety concerns.
The shelling, which started around midnight in Uri and Tanghdar, forced people to take refuge in underground bunkers.
While the Pakistani shelling continued till daybreak in Uri, it continued upto 8 am in Tangdhar.
“Heavy shelling started at midnight. We shifted to a bunker. There were around 15 people and it was a nightmare for us. In the morning at first light the shelling stopped and we stepped out of the bunker,” said Aftab Ahmad of Balkote Uri.
Another resident of Salamabad said three houses in the area were damaged in the shelling. “The shells landed in residential areas and it was intense,” he said.
At Karnah in Kupwara district, the residents had to take shelter in underground bunkers to escape the shelling. Some houses and other buildings suffered heavy damage, while few caught fire due to the heavy shelling from across the LoC.
“We spent a terrible long night. We had to move to safer locations and take shelter to save our lives amid the heavy shelling,” Sayeed Ahmad, a local resident, said
Authorities in Baramulla have kept over 200 buses ready at Degree College Baramulla as part of contingency plan for evacuation of casualties from Uri along LoC in Baramulla district. The administration has apprehensions that there may be intense shelling during night and it may lead to casualties.
The authorities today directed seven schools in the district to send their buses to Government Degree College (GDC) Baramulla, with a one-hour deadline for compliance.
“The schools are advised to maintain close liaison with the district administration and ARTO Baramulla for further coordination,” the order issued by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Baramulla read.
The order also directed school heads to provide details of the dispatched vehicles, including the name and phone number of the driver, to the ARTO office in Baramulla.
“Any negligence will be viewed seriously, and non-compliance during this period will result in the cancellation of the vehicle’s registration without further notice.”
The residents in Baramulla district were advised to turn off lights before 10 PM due to heightened security concerns along the LoC. This precautionary measure aims to minimize visibility from across the border and reduce the risk of targeting by hostile forces.
Meanwhile, a circular issued by the Haj Committee of India stated that Haj flights from the Srinagar Embarkation Point have been cancelled until May 9.
“In view of NOTAM…concerning the temporary closure of Srinagar Airport, Haj flights from the Srinagar Embarkation Point have been cancelled until 9th May 2025. The situation is currently being reviewed, and alternate arrangements for the air travel of the concerned pilgrims are under active consideration in close coordination with various stakeholders,” the circular stated.
The HCI stated that it remains fully committed to ensuring the successful pilgrimage of all Haj pilgrims.
“For the latest updates on their revised travel schedule, pilgrims are requested to remain in contact with the Jammu & Kashmir State Haj Committee.”
HCI has urged the J&K State Haj Committee to promptly disseminate this information among the concerned pilgrims and continue to keep them informed of any further developments.
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