REBUILDING J&K: ON AMIT SHAH'S VISIT

Jammu and Kashmir bore the brunt of Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah rightly focused on both security and development during his visit to Poonch, where residential areas were hit by shelling from across the border.

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A comprehensive relief package is planned alongside the construction of more underground shelters for civilians.

The J&K government is still in the process of assessing damages, but Poonch was by far the worst-affected district. A preliminary report submitted by a committee set up by the BJP to the Ministry of Home Affairs identified 1,500 houses — 690 in Poonch and 534 in Uri — that were damaged in the indiscriminate shelling.

At least 18 civilians — 14 in Poonch alone — lost their lives. Pakistani shelling hit towns in Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara and Rajouri, and the damage to civilian infrastructure was considerable.