The Jammu and Kashmir government has started estimating the losses caused by the recent shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Officials have also begun speeding up relief activities in the affected border areas, said Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.

“You saw that the shelling from across the Line of Control has targeted civilian areas. Many people have been injured, many have lost their livestock, and their houses have been damaged,” Dulloo said on Tuesday.

Pakistan intensified cross-border shelling after India carried out Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The heavy shelling caused damage to homes and religious places in Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. Despite the situation, local residents expressed their support for the Indian Army.

Dulloo said that the local administration is working to provide relief quickly. “Now, the local administration is working on quickly assessing the situation and providing relief as soon as possible,” he added.

Speaking about the safety infrastructure in border areas, Dulloo said, “There are around 9,500 bunkers across the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. But the demand for more bunkers still exists, so we will build more, and there will be no shortage of bunkers.”

When asked about the overall damage in the affected areas, he said, “As for the entire district, how much loss has occurred, how many houses have been damaged, that assessment is currently underway.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Army defused unexploded shells in residential areas of villages near the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and visited shelling-affected areas.

After meeting the residents affected by cross-border shelling in Kupwara, CM Abdullah said the government will compensate people after completing the damage assessment.

“By God’s grace, we haven’t lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and a Madrasa. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will compensate the people accordingly. The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn’t need them for a long time. And we will try to build individual bunkers around the border and LoC areas,” CM Abdullah told the media.

The J&K Chief Minister visited Pakistani shelling-affected areas in Tangdhar and praised the residents for their resilience.

“Visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar and met families who have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them, their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope,” the Office of the J-K CM posted on X.

After India and Pakistan agreed to cease hostilities, life in Jammu and Kashmir has gradually returned to normal.