'Got No Warning to Evacuate': J&K Villagers Seek Refuge As Pak Continues Firing

Operation Sindoor: Walked For Hours Without Food': Villagers Evacuate Homes as Shelling Escalates

(Photo: The Quint)

“We walked for hours without food or water. We still don’t know whether our home is standing or reduced to rubble,” said Mohammad Shiraz (name changed), a resident of Salotri village in Kashmir's Poonch, who was was forced to flee his home due to the shelling.

As heavy shelling leaves a trail of destruction, hundreds of people have fled their homes along the LoC. Those left behind are now cleaning and preparing long-abandoned underground bunkers that haven’t been used in years.

Following India's 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan has been engaging in heavy firing along the Line of Control (LoC).

On 7 May, intense artillery shelling was reported across eight sectors—Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor—leaving 16 civilians dead and scores of others injured. Among the dead are at least four members of the Sikh community near a local gurdwara in Poonch, and Indian Army soldier Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar.

A house in Gingal, Uri sector, in Baramulla district, as seen damaged in cross-border firing by Pakistan.

(Photo Credit: Safoora Hilal)

The shelling on 7 May was the 13th consecutive night of unprovoked firing along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam attack.

The indiscriminate shelling destroyed homes, vehicles, and several buildings—including a gurdwara—triggering widespread panic among residents, especially in the worst-hit districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region and Baramulla and Kupwara in north Kashmir.

Hundreds of families living along the LoC have left their homes.

(Photo Credit: Ahangar Khurshid)

'Misery, Tears, and Fears'

Talking to The Quint, Shiraz recounted, "The shelling began around 11 pm on 6 May, but we received no warning or instructions to evacuate to safer areas. We were at home, and we had no bunkers to take shelter in."

Shiraz added that residents were caught off guard. "Had we been informed, we could have moved to safety in time."

Visibly disheartened, he added, "We have left everything behind—our cattle, which are part of our livelihood, and our homes. We fled barefoot, walking for kilometres because the only available transport, shared taxis, were charging exorbitant fares."

Shiraz claimed that it was the first time that villages had to be evacuated. "Earlier, only the houses very close to the border were evacuated. At that time, people were given orders beforehand, and they were ready, but this time, nothing like that was conveyed," he alleged.

Most people from Salamabad, barely 10 kms from LoC, have abandoned their homes and moved to safer locations.

(Photo Credit: Safoora Hilal)

He further alleged that people living along the LoC have never been provided with any training to survive during war-like situations.

“Mock drills should have been done before—not when war is at the doorstep. Whenever any escalation happens between the countries, it's the common people who suffer. We want peace so that we can go back to our homes."

On the morning of 7 May, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, took to the microblogging platform X and wrote:

"Took stock of the situation in the border districts of J&K UT with all senior administrative, police, and district officials, including DCs of all border districts. I'm closely monitoring the situation, and the government is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality."

From Poonch to Kupwara, Fear Reigns

Javed Ahmad (name changed), a resident of Karnah in Kupwara district, was asleep on the first floor of his home when loud explosions around midnight jolted him awake. As the ground trembled beneath him and the deafening sounds grew clearer, he realised cross-border shelling had begun.

"My heart was racing so fast, for a moment I thought it might burst out of my chest," he recalled.

Putting on a brave face, Javed immediately woke up his family. "I told them to lie on the ground on their stomachs to protect themselves from mortar shells," he said. "We had no other option—we don’t have any bunkers."

Javed added that as they fled the house, shells struck homes just seven or eight buildings away. "We grabbed only the bare essentials—some emergency medicines and a few items for the children—and left."

He said that while ceasefire violations have been occurring for years, “today was the worst. We’ve been compromising for years, but this felt like a breaking point.”

With a population of around one lakh in the area, five houses reportedly caught fire during the shelling. “There’s only one fire station for the entire region,” Javed pointed out. “By the time they arrive, the damage is already done.”

Pakistan has continued heavy shellings along the LoC post Operation Sindoor.

(Photo Credit: Safoora Hilal)

Expressing concern for non-local workers, he added: “I live here, I understand the risk. But what about the people from other states who come here to work? They don’t know the ground reality. I tell them—no matter if you're wearing a white shirt or a tie, when the shelling starts, lie on the dirty ground.”

Many locals living near the LoC have now evacuated to safer zones—staying with relatives, moving into their own homes in other towns, or renting temporary shelter.

"We had a feeling something like this would happen—we just didn’t know when," he said. "But we’re grateful we don’t have to worry about food. In Kashmir, we help each other in times of crisis. There is brotherhood and humanity here."

On Wednesday, authorities issued an advisory urging the general public in Karnah to stay indoors due to the prevailing situation.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Karnah advised residents not to gather on roads, streets, or outside shops, and to remain indoors.

Advisory from the SDM office in Karnah.

(Accessed by The Quint)

'Home No Longer Safe'

Around 4 pm, panic gripped Gingal, a village near Uri in Baramullah District, as a powerful blast shattered the calm, forcing families to flee their homes in fear for their lives.

"We heard a horrifying sound, like a blast. Our entire family scattered, trying to find safety," Suhail Khan (name changed), a local resident, told The Quint. "We rushed to my uncle’s house next door. It wasn’t safe either, but it was the only option—we couldn’t run further because it was completely dark outside."

Khan said the open fields were even more dangerous, especially with small children to protect. The family spent the night in fear, waiting for dawn.

"When morning came, we saw the damage. The blast had shattered all the glass in our home—windows, doors—everything was broken. A splinter had hit the wall and damaged a nearby car."

Suhail Khan, Resident Of Gingal, Near Uri Sector

According to Khan, the family was left in shock and without support during the night. "No one came to check on us. In the morning, police came, looked around briefly, and left without much interaction," he added.

Locals say the shelling left the community shaken. "Life here is difficult. Danger can strike at any time. Things are still far from normal. Now, more than ever, we need to stand together and support each other," Khan said.

In Salamabad, located about 10 km east of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector, nearly every household was forced to evacuate due to the heavy shelling.

'Exposed to Increased Risk from Artillery'

A local resident from Baramulla district expressed growing concern over the heightened vulnerability of communities situated near military installations, particularly amid ongoing cross-border hostilities.

"Given our location amidst several artillery bases—assets likely to be targeted in any hostile engagement—we are inherently exposed to increased risk," the resident said. "In the event of a retaliatory strike by Pakistan, these bases would almost certainly be among the first to be hit, placing us directly in harm’s way."

He added that the threat of extensive collateral damage in the area is not only probable, but alarmingly high.

"This situation highlights the urgent need for protective measures and a serious reassessment of how close civilian zones are to military infrastructure," he noted.

The resident also described the emotional toll the shelling has taken on local families.

"We haven’t slept since the firing began. Fear has kept us awake and mentally exhausted. We’ve been waiting for daylight each day just to learn which houses were damaged and who may have been killed."

The Quint tried to speak with Shafqat Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, but he declined to make any comment over the phone.