J&K CM Omar Abdullah promises to build more bunkers for border residents

J&K Chief Minister plans to build more individual and community bunkers in border areas post military confrontation.

More Individual and community bunkers will be built in Jammu and Kashmir’s border areas that were affected by shelling during the recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday (May 13, 2025).

Also read: India-Pakistan ceasefire updates on May 14, 2025

“It appears that civilian areas were deliberately targeted in this instance, endangering more lives. Thankfully, the ceasefire is currently holding, and we are working diligently to assess damage and extend help wherever needed. We will draft a policy for more individual underground bunkers in border areas,” Mr. Abdullah, who toured shelling-affected areas of Baramulla, said.

He said there was a need for individual bunkers in vulnerable areas. “With support from the Union Government, we will construct individual bunkers in all shelling-affected regions,” Mr. Abdullah said.

The Centre has already built 7,923 bunkers, including 6,964 individual and 959 community bunkers, in the vulnerable border districts of the Jammu division.

Touring Salamabad, which was the worst-affected, Mr. Abdullah pledged to draft long-term rehabilitation measures. “It is the responsibility of my government to ensure you receive the necessary support to rebuild your lives with dignity,” he said.

Salamabad, Lagama, Bandi, Razarwani, and Gingal in the Uri sector saw more than 100 families shifted to safer locations after houses were damaged in cross-border shelling.