by
International Desk, April 26, 2025, 18:31
Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following the killing of 26 people in Pehelgam, Jammu-Kashmir, an incident that has sparked multiple cross-border skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC). Fearing a large-scale attack from Pakistan, residents of Indian border villages, particularly in the Poonch sector, are actively preparing community bunkers for safety.
According to Bhaskar Live, the situation is particularly tense in Salotri village, located at India’s last frontier in the Poonch division. Over the past two days, cross-border firing has heightened fears among villagers, prompting them to clean and ready their community bunkers. These bunkers, constructed by the Indian government, are designed to withstand bullets and shelling, built 10 feet underground for maximumrand protection.
A local official told Bhaskar Live, “Pakistani troops fired small arms at Indian positions, and our forces responded robustly. No casualties have been reported so far.”
Salotri residents expressed gratitude for the government-provided bunkers. One villager stated, “We live in a border area. The bunkers provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are strong, bulletproof, and 10 feet underground. We feel very safe here and are grateful.” The villager condemned the Pehelgam attack as “cowardly” and emphasized the need for a response, saying, “When our forces retaliate, we must go to safe places. We are preparing our bunkers for that.”
Historically, during the Kargil War, 217 residents of Hundarman village near the LoC took shelter in a bunker, which they still maintain. In contrast, Salotri had no bunkers at the time, forcing residents to flee to Poonch city. Now, with bunkers in place, the village is better equipped to face potential threats.
AI/MR
