Gupta, who was present near one of the impacted areas, described the sudden explosions as frightening and confirmed three injuries in the incident. He accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting residential zones to spread panic, citing their unwillingness to confront the Indian Army directly.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah mourned the death of Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa, calling it a devastating loss. Thappa’s home in Rajouri was struck by shelling just a day after he had participated in a virtual meeting with the Deputy CM and other officials.
Civilian areas in Rajouri experienced a series of explosions, damaging multiple homes and properties and sending plumes of smoke into the air. One injured civilian was rushed to hospital immediately, where doctors and emergency teams were on standby, according to hospital officials.
The Aap Shambhu Temple in Roop Nagar, a popular site for morning worshippers, was struck near its main gate, but no casualties were reported. Projectile fragments from the shelling were retrieved by Jammu Police and SDRF teams, who quickly cordoned off affected areas.
Locals stressed that had the temple siren alert not gone off in time, casualties could have been higher due to the early morning gathering. Indian armed forces carried out retaliatory strikes on at least four Pakistani airbases early Saturday morning, government sources confirmed.
Pakistan’s shelling affected 26 locations across India, including regions in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan, prompting heightened military response. Debris from suspected Pakistani drones was found in Amritsar's Mughlani Kot Village, with visuals showing scorched agricultural fields.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed multiple drone sightings across the International Border and LoC, including suspected armed UAVs.
Citizens in border regions have been urged to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, and comply with safety advisories as security forces remain on high alert.
