A large-scale operation is in progress in border villages of Jammu & Kashmir to remove unexploded shells and ordnance left behind following days of heavy cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan. The emergency exercise, spearheaded by the Army and bomb disposal teams, follows heavy artillery and drone shelling that compelled tens of thousands of residents to abandon their homes for safety.
The clearance process is targeted in villages of the Uri sub-division of the district of Baramulla, Rajouri, Poonch, and Jammu region, where shells have been spotted lying unexploded in fields, roads, and even within households. These war remnants are a grave threat to the returning civilians, as even minor movement may cause fatal explosions. Police and district officials have made stern advisories, asking residents not to return home until an official "all-clear" has been issued and threatening legal action against unauthorised re-entry into the affected areas.
Expert squads are systematically clearing contaminated regions, looking for unexploded ordnance and disposing of them. Up to seven unexploded shells were destroyed in one village on a single day. The operation is slow and laborious, and is dictated by weather and the severity of the pollution. Roadblocks and loudspeaker cars have been introduced by authorities to keep the villagers safe and away from contaminated areas.
The size of displacement is enormous. In Uri alone, nearly 15,000 residents of villages such as Salamabad, Razarwani, Gingal, Lagama, and Banday were shifted to temporary camps with food, medicine, and basic commodities. In north Kashmir's Baramulla and Kupwara districts, over 50,000 have been displaced, with similar evacuations in Jammu's Samba and Poonch districts.
The clearance operation came after a fragile ceasefire following four days of the worst fighting in decades, instigated by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Indian retaliatory strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The subsequent shelling hit most civilian targets, contrary to reports that only military establishments were hit. Authorities spearheading the clearance have established that shells have fallen in the center of villages, with whole sections of villages populated by civilians now tainted.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also toured the shelter homes, calling on the government to offer alternative housing and compensation to affected families. She emphasized the trauma experienced by families and children, saying, "War, bullets, and shelling have stolen homes and shattered childhoods. In tin-roofed shelters, Kashmir's children wait-not for revenge, but for peace".
Authorities emphasize that the security of citizens is the top priority. The removal of unexploded shells will take a few more days, and then residents will be permitted to return. In the meantime, patience and cooperation are being asked for to avoid further tragedy.
