‘Operation Sindoor’ sparks cross-border retaliation, leading to 16 civilian deaths. Demands grow for faster bunker completion across LoC and IB regions.
By Parvin Kumar
Jammu, March 14
The Jammu and Kashmir government is racing against time to complete the construction of over 9,000 bunkers in response to escalating border tensions with Pakistan.
In January 2018, the Centre approved the construction of 14,460 bunkers—including 13,029 individual and 1,431 community bunkers—at a cost of ₹415.73 crore to protect residents living within three kilometers of the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in the Jammu region. An additional 4,000 bunkers were later sanctioned to safeguard more vulnerable populations.
On May 13, 2025, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo announced that 9,500 bunkers have been completed so far. This leaves approximately 9,905 bunkers still under construction, reflecting an urgent need for faster execution, particularly after recent escalations.
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Retaliation After ‘Operation Sindoor’
Tensions soared on May 7 after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistani forces pounded civilian areas in Poonch and Rajouri in the early hours of May 8, resulting in 16 civilian deaths, including five children, and damaging over 200 homes and shops.
Many residents were caught in the open or inside vehicles when the shelling began, with no bunkers available for protection in Poonch town. Even high-ranking officials were not spared—Rajouri’s Additional District Development Commissioner sustained injuries while inside his official residence.
Omar Abdullah Visits Border Areas
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during a recent visit to affected areas, was inundated with pleas to accelerate bunker construction. “Wherever I went, people had only one demand—individual bunkers,” he said during his visit to Tangdhar in Kupwara, one of the worst-hit areas.
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He assured that the state would soon frame a dedicated policy and submit a proposal to the Centre for funding. “People in border areas are more concerned about their safety than anything else,” he added.
Chief Secretary Dulloo, while visiting the Rajouri and Nowshera sectors, acknowledged the need for more bunkers. “There will be no shortfall of bunkers,” he stated. He also confirmed that the administration is assessing the damage to homes, livestock, and infrastructure, and will disburse compensation accordingly.
Bunker Construction Highlights:
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Total sanctioned bunkers: 14,460
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Completed bunkers: 9,500
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Bunkers under construction: 9,905 (across various stages)
District-wise Breakup:
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Rajouri: 4,918 individual, 372 community
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Kathua: 3,076 individual, 243 community
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Poonch: 1,320 individual, 688 community
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Jammu: 1,200 individual, 120 community
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Samba: 2,515 individual, 8 community
These efforts reflect a growing recognition of the need to protect civilians amid rising hostilities, with both state and central governments under pressure to expedite the process before further escalation.
