The Indian Army’s Bomb Disposal Squad is actively working to safeguard civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district by defusing unexploded Pakistani shells in villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Noushera sector.
These unexploded shells are remnants of intense cross-border shelling by Pakistan, which occurred prior to the May 10 ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, following Operation Sindoor. The Indian Army has released video footage showing personnel neutralizing hazardous ordnance and safely detonating some from a distance using controlled explosions.
The shelling had caused severe damage to homes and infrastructure and claimed civilian lives across LoC-adjacent districts.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said on Tuesday that the administration is working on compensating those affected and enhancing civilian protection. “Many people have been injured and houses damaged due to Pakistani shelling. We are compensating affected residents and constructing more bunkers in the border areas,” Dulloo stated.
The shelling by Pakistan was in retaliation to India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Operation Sindoor involved targeted strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the death of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following Pakistan’s retaliation through artillery shelling and attempted drone attacks, India launched coordinated military operations that destroyed key enemy infrastructure including radar systems, communication hubs, and airfields across 11 Pakistani airbases.
With hostilities halted as of May 10, the Army’s ongoing clearance of unexploded ordnance is being seen as a vital step toward restoring safety and normalcy in affected border villages.