One year after India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, residents living along the border in Jammu and Kashmir say they are still waiting for new bunkers promised after last year’s escalation with Pakistan.
Operation Sindoor had sent a strong message across the border as Indian Armed Forces targeted terror hideouts and camps in Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) as well as terror headquarters inside Pakistan’s Punjab province. However, following the operation, Pakistan retaliated with intense mortar shelling in border districts, particularly Poonch and Rajouri, targeting civilian areas and residential localities near the Line of Control (LoC). Several civilians were killed while many others suffered injuries.
In the aftermath of the shelling, senior officials and ministers visited the affected areas and assured residents that more individual and community bunkers would be built to strengthen civilian safety in border regions. But a year later, little progress is visible on the ground.
India Today and Aaj Tak visited villages near the International Border in the RS Pura sector to assess the situation. Residents said no new bunkers have been constructed since Operation Sindoor. Villagers revealed that officials had conducted a door-to-door survey around a month ago to assess the feasibility of constructing both individual and community bunkers.
Families with sufficient land have reportedly agreed to allow construction of individual bunkers within their compounds. Others with limited space have urged authorities to build community bunkers close to residential areas so that people can quickly take shelter during emergencies.
Residents also pointed to the deteriorating condition of bunkers built after 2014, saying many shelters now require urgent repairs and maintenance.
The situation in Poonch district, one of the worst-hit regions during the Pakistani shelling, remains largely unchanged. Residents claimed that no major bunker construction has taken place over the past year. According to locals, only two new bunkers are currently being built in Poonch city — one at the Deputy Commissioner’s office and another at the Dak Bungalow complex.
However, locals raised concerns over the quality of construction at the Dak Bungalow bunker, alleging that the site remains waterlogged with sewer and rain water even as construction continues.
Frustrated by delays, some residents in Poonch have started building bunkers on their own. Near a Gurdwara in the city, locals are constructing a community shelter independently, claiming authorities have failed to begin adequate bunker construction despite repeated demands.
Residents in neighbouring Rajouri district echoed similar concerns and called for immediate construction of additional bomb shelters.
Despite their grievances, many border residents acknowledged that the administration acted swiftly in providing compensation for homes damaged during last year’s shelling. Families of civilians killed in the attacks were also provided government jobs. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had personally visited affected areas in Poonch and handed over appointment letters to victims’ families.
Officials say nearly 9,500 bunkers have already been constructed in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir since the Modi government came to power at the Centre. However, residents argue that the existing shelters proved inadequate during last year’s escalation and more bunkers are urgently needed in vulnerable areas.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has reportedly proposed construction of more than 5,000 additional bunkers in Poonch district alone, with similar proposals submitted for other border districts as well.
India Today and Aaj Tak also contacted several officials regarding the delay in construction of new bunkers. However, no official response had been received till the filing of this report.
– Ends
with inputs from Manjeet singh and Shakti Sharma
Published By:
Zafar Zaidi
Published On:
May 13, 2026 07:18 IST
