Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief over the death of senior administrative officer Raj Kumar Thappa, who was killed after Pakistani shelling struck his residence in Rajouri district on Saturday. Thappa, who served as the Additional District Development Commissioner, had actively participated in official duties just a day before his tragic death.
“Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling… I’ve no words to express my shock & sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace,” Omar Abdullah wrote in a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter).
Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 10, 2025
The cross-border shelling by Pakistan caused widespread damage to civilian areas in Rajouri, triggering panic among local residents. Several homes were damaged, and hospitals reported receiving injured civilians. “One injured person has been brought here. Doctors and the entire team are ready. His treatment began immediately,” said Farukh Ahmed Wani, a hospital security in-charge.
Projectile fragments were also recovered near the Aap Shambhu Temple in Rajouri, as police and emergency responders rushed to affected areas.
Simultaneously, in Punjab’s Jalandhar district, a drone-related explosion damaged a house in Kanganiwal village. A resident, Surjeet Kaur, described the terrifying moment: “A red-coloured flash came above our house and there was a huge explosion. Everything went dark. Later, we found the water tanks on several rooftops destroyed.”
The shelling and drone attacks follow Pakistan’s coordinated offensive on 26 locations across India. In response, Indian forces launched retaliatory strikes, targeting at least four Pakistani airbases early Saturday morning. Intermittent firing continues along the Line of Control (LoC).
The Ministry of Defence confirmed sightings of armed drones at 26 locations across the International Border and LoC, including Srinagar, Nagrota, Ferozpur, and Pathankot. One such drone attack in Ferozpur injured multiple civilians. The Defence Ministry assured that the Indian Armed Forces are on high alert and actively neutralising aerial threats with advanced counter-drone systems.
Indian forces also thwarted a major drone and missile attack by Pakistan on the night of May 7–8, successfully destroying multiple threats and neutralising an air defence system in Lahore. The escalation follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people and marked the beginning of heightened hostilities.
Authorities continue to urge civilians in border areas to stay indoors, remain vigilant, and follow safety instructions amid the volatile situation.