Soldier, man martyred, 4 injured; houses damaged
People wake up to sound of sirens, blasts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Pakistan early today again targeted military installations and civilian areas in Jammu and Udhampur launching large numbers of drones simultaneously, majority of which were destroyed by the Indian Air Defence System. However, some drones and debris fell in civilian areas in which a 45-year-old man was killed at Kheri Keran in Raipur area on outskirts of the City and four civilians were injured.
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A soldier was martyred after being hit by fragment of Pakistani drone at an air base in Udhampur. He has been identified as Surinder Singh Moga of Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
Tonight around 7.30 PM i.e. within couple of hours of the announcement of ceasefire by India and Pakistan, the Pakistani troops again launched drone attacks in some parts of Jammu, Udhampur, and Rajouri. However, all the drones were intercepted and brought down successfully by Air Defence System of the Indian Armed Force.
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Again, military installations and civilian infrastructure were the targets but the Pakistani attempts were thwarted. Drones flew over half a dozen areas.
Even though the stoppage of firing and military action was directly worked out between India and Pakistan, a chain of explosions was heard throughout Jammu and Udhampur districts late tonight after suspected drones from the neighbouring country were seen moving in the area, the officials reported.
Air sirens wailed through parts of Jammu city followed by explosions, resulting in temporary power cuts in some areas.
Although the reason behind the explosions was yet to be confirmed, locals said they had seen Army’s Air Defence Units resorting to firing in an attempt to neutralise the enemy drones.
The concurrent drone activity and blasts in both areas, so shortly after the announcement of the understanding arrived earlier this evening, have sparked grave doubts about the sincerity of Pakistan towards the truce, the officials added.
Meanwhile, most of the people in Jammu City and outskirts woke up abruptly around 4.30 AM to the sound of blasts with Air Defence System targeting Pakistani drones allover mid-air. Majority of the drones were intercepted and downed by the Indian Armed Forces but couple of drones or their debris fell in civilian areas and fields causing damage to some of the buildings.
Military installations and civilian areas were targeted by the Pakistani drones fired between 4.30 AM to 7 AM. Exact number of drones fired by Pakistan couldn’t be ascertained immediately but going by intensity and falling of debris, their numbers could well be around 100.
A 45-year-old civilian Zakir Hussain son of Zakeen Ali was killed after drone hit his house at village Kheri Keran in Bantalab area on outskirts of the City. He was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu where he was declared as brought dead.
This was the first casualty in drone attacks by the Pakistan army from the night of May 8.
Four civilians were injured as drone debris fell at various other places including Rehari, Roop Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Raipur, Bhalwal, Domana etc.
Several houses and other structures besides the vehicles were damaged.
Early morning drone attacks resulted into panic among the people most of whom were asleep but woke up with sounds of sirens and blackout followed by activation of Air Defence System targeting the enemy drones at various places.
According to Defence officials, Pakistan’s blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions continued along the western borders early this morning.
Among the worst-hit was the densely populated Rehari Colony, where a drone tore through the home of Gulshan Dutta, leaving the structure and several nearby vehicles in ruins.
One person was injured, but the family narrowly escaped.
“We stepped out onto the balcony after waking up to the sound of sirens and rushed to the ground floor. Moments later, a massive blast rocked our house,” Dutta’s wife recalled.
“The sirens saved our lives,” she said. “If we hadn’t moved, we would have been dead. Mata Rani protected us.”
Scenes of devastation in Rehari Colony resembled a war zone — splintered concrete, twisted metal, shattered windows and fragments embedded in walls and vehicles.
Around 5:15 AM today, Dutta heard the blast that shook his home to its foundation.
“Our entire house trembled. We thought it was the end,” he said.
“We woke up to sound of sirens blaring… moments later, a massive blast rocked our house,” recalled a resident of Rehari Colony in Jammu city that was among the worst-hit in the region by intense mortar shelling and drone strikes by Pakistan early today.
The morning assault came hours after multiple drones were intercepted overnight by Indian armed forces.
Another bomb reportedly targeted the revered Aap Shambhu temple but landed near an isolated house instead, averting what could have been mass casualties.
“We had come for our morning prayers when a loud explosion shattered the silence. Debris flew everywhere,” said Sudesh Kumar, a devotee.
“Had it happened later, dozens could have been killed,” he said.
In Janipur, a shell tore through the roof of a home, causing widespread damage in the vicinity. However, the family had locked the house and moved to another place due to fear.
Several neighbourhoods reported panic and sleepless nights following the explosions and overnight drone activity.
“We were up all night due to the drone alerts. Then came the blasts,” said Omkar Singh, a resident of Janipura.
Shakuntala Devi from Hazuribagh echoed the concern. “They are targeting civilians now. When they can’t fight our Army, they try to break us by hitting innocents,” she said.
Despite the fear, some residents voiced defiance. Kartar Chand, who works in a warehouse near a business hub, witnessed a shell explode nearby early today.
“We are not afraid, but Pakistan must be made to pay for this. They must not be allowed to continue sponsoring terror in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Talab Tillo resident Devi Sharan Gupta said the attacks brought back memories of the 1971 war.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in Jammu since then. This kind of deliberate targeting of civilian areas is unprecedented,” he said.
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