LoC in Rajouri, Poonch witnesses heavy artillery shelling; casualties feared

Rajouri, May 7: Rajouri and Poonch districts along the Line of Control (LoC) witnessed heavy artillery shelling, leaving dozens injured, some of them critical.

The Rajouri and Poonch districts witnessed heavy artillery shelling from the Pakistani Army, triggering a wave of loss and fear.

First time after the 1999 Kargil War, artillery shelling was witnessed in villages deep inside the LoC with the border town Poonch, which is also the district headquarters of Poonch district, remaining under heavy attack from Pakistani artillery shelling.

As per the reports, almost all the LoC sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts barring Sunderbani and parts of Nowshera witnessed heavy artillery shelling on Tuesday night.

Officials said that in the Poonch district, heavy artillery shelling started in Mendhar, Balakote, Mankote, and Krishna Ghati areas on Tuesday night along with areas of Saujiyan while artillery selling in the main Poonch sector started on Wednesday morning.

Officials said that Poonch town came under heavy to very heavy artillery shelling early Wednesday morning and the entire town remained under attack for more than six hours, spreading a wave of terror, fear, and grief among locals.

Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Poonch Haveli, Ajaz Jan, who also lives in Poonch town, said that the entire town was converted into a war zone after the Pakistan Army resorted to heavy artillery shelling on this town.

There are no words to describe the fear and scene as Poonch town was under intense artillery shelling for around six hours and hundreds of artillery shells landed in the town,î MLA Ajaz Jan said adding that almost all localities of the town remained under heavy shelling.

Our private schools, temples, Masjids, Madarsas, government offices, Police Lines, and all parts of the town as well as market areas and bus stands remained under heavy shelling,î Jan said.

Regarding healthcare services made available in this tough time, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch, Dr Parvez Ahmed Khan said that all the staff members of the hospital remained on their toes.

Locals said that Irwan Khanetar village in the Rajouri sector came under shelling on Tuesday night with dozens of artillery shells landing in the village, causing damage to several houses.

At least, three houses and two shopping complexes got badly damaged in the shelling while four members of a family got injured all were brought to GMC Associated Hospital Rajouri where they are under treatment.