𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐢𝐝, 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞

Kupwara, May 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured compensation for residents affected by recent cross-border shelling in Kupwara, stating that the government will act after a detailed damage assessment. “By God’s grace, we haven’t lost any lives here, but there is considerable damage to public property like houses, shops, and a madrasa. The District Collector will complete the damage assessment by today or tomorrow, and compensation will follow accordingly,” he told reporters.

During his visit to the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar, CM Abdullah met with displaced families, lauding their resilience in the face of adversity. “Their courage is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them and will take every possible step to help them rebuild their lives with dignity,” his office posted on X.

He also inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and assured the construction of additional individual bunkers along the border and Line of Control (LoC) to enhance safety in future crises. CM Abdullah later visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara to meet those injured during the shelling.

Recent Pakistani shelling caused widespread damage across Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch, impacting homes and religious sites. Despite the violence, local residents expressed solidarity with the Indian Army and vowed to stand firm.

Although a ceasefire understanding has been reached between India and Pakistan, fear lingers in some border areas, including Samba, where residents reported explosions on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian armed forces for their swift and decisive response under Operation Sindoor. In a national address, PM Modi said, “Every terror organisation now knows the cost of harming our daughters and sisters.” He emphasized that Operation Sindoor — launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives — marked a new chapter in India’s counter-terrorism strategy.

The operation targeted multiple terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, reportedly eliminating over 100 terrorists and inflicting substantial damage on 11 air bases. The strikes were executed across air, land, and sea with precise coordination and minimal civilian casualties.