Drone Debris Injures Family in Punjab Village:
Three members of a family in Punjab’s Ferozpur were critically injured after debris from a Pakistani drone crashed into their home and triggered a fire, as aerial threats spread beyond J&K.
BY PC Bureau
May 10, 2025 – In a major escalation along the India-Pakistan border, five civilians—including a senior government officer—were killed and over a dozen injured in intense Pakistani shelling across Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday. Civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) were specifically targeted, further inflaming tensions after India’s Operation Sindoor—an airstrike campaign on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
In one of the most high-profile casualties, Raj Kumar Thapa, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, was killed when an artillery shell slammed into his official residence at around 5:30 AM. Two of his staffers sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Government Medical College for treatment. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief, calling Thapa a “dedicated officer” who had joined the Deputy Chief Minister in official meetings just a day before. “I have no words to express my shock and sadness at this terrible loss of life,” Abdullah wrote on X.
The past 24 hours have seen multiple civilian casualties across the region. In Poonch district, one person was killed and five others injured when long-range mortars hit residential buildings and government offices during the night. In RS Pura sector of Jammu district, Ashok Kumar, a resident of Bidipur Jatta, died in cross-border gunfire. In Rajouri, two additional civilians lost their lives alongside Thapa, while six others were injured in sustained shelling that damaged homes and businesses in Mendhar, Balakot, and Ajot.
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In Punjab’s Ferozpur district, a separate and deeply disturbing incident occurred when a Pakistani drone was shot down, but its debris crashed into a home in Khai Pheme Ke village, severely injuring three members of a single family. The wreckage ignited a fire, setting the house ablaze and adding to the sense of panic spreading across the border states.
Raj Kumar Thapa, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Rajouri, was killed during attacks by the Pakistan Army.#IndiaPakistanWar #PakistanZindabad #PakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/hJHhhVksl1
— Pakistan Defense (@thetanveeriqbal) May 10, 2025
The shelling and aerial threats have severely disrupted life in northern India. Civilian flights were halted at 32 airports, including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, until at least May 15, stranding thousands. Airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet canceled flights, and emergency trains were arranged to evacuate affected passengers from Jammu and Udhampur. The Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended for a week, following the abrupt stoppage of the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals match on May 8. The Pakistan Super League was also postponed indefinitely and moved to the UAE amid rising tensions.
Blackouts were enforced across Jammu, Rajouri, Amritsar, and Jalandhar to counter drone threats, with air raid sirens prompting residents to seek shelter indoors. Schools were closed in Leh and five Rajasthan border districts. Security was tightened in multiple states, including Delhi, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh, and the Rajasthan government allocated ₹5 crore per border district for emergency relief. Government employee leaves were canceled in many states to ensure continuous administrative response.
Public outrage has surged following the civilian deaths, with thousands voicing condemnation on social media. The Indian government accused Pakistan of acting like a “terrorist state,” citing attacks not only on homes and public offices but also on religious sites, including a missile strike near Jammu’s Aap Shambhu Temple. India denied suffering major military casualties and stated that its armed forces had caused “substantial damage” on the Pakistani side through retaliatory strikes.
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Pakistan’s claims of Indian attacks on its airbases were dismissed by Indian authorities as “baseless propaganda.” Meanwhile, global powers including the US, G7 nations, and Singapore urged both sides to de-escalate. However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the international community’s inaction, arguing that continued IMF funding to Pakistan indirectly enabled cross-border aggression. “You cannot claim neutrality while funding a state that attacks civilians and shrines,” he said.
The humanitarian cost is mounting. Villages along the LoC are emptying as residents flee for safety, and calls are growing louder for emergency medical support, temporary shelters, and compensation. The Indian Ministry of Defence has urged border populations to follow safety protocols and assured that counter-drone systems are being actively deployed to intercept aerial threats.
