Intense shelling and multiple explosions shook Jammu city early Saturday morning, as the already strained relations between India and Pakistan took a sharp turn for the worse. The civilian population woke up to chaos, damage, and fear, with a complete power outage compounding the uncertainty.
In the early hours around 4:30 am, residents reported hearing several powerful blasts, followed by a total blackout across major parts of Jammu. Visuals from Udhampur’s Dibber area, shared by local media, showed thick smoke rising in the distance while emergency sirens pierced the air.
One of the most severe outcomes of the attack was the tragic death of Raj Kumar Thappa, the Additional District Development Commissioner of Rajouri. His official residence was directly hit by Pakistani shelling. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep anguish over the loss, saying Thappa had joined him for a virtual government meeting just a day before. “This loss is personal and heartbreaking,” the Chief Minister remarked.
India Strikes Back Amid Shelling in Jammu
As explosions rang out across Jammu, Akhnoor, Uri, Hamirpur, and Pallanwala, Indian defence forces launched strong countermeasures. By 5 am, heavy artillery duels had begun in the Naushera sector. The Indian military reported engaging Pakistani forces with precision, targeting shelling positions and suspected drone launch sites near the Line of Control.
Civilian homes did not escape the devastation. Local resident Jitender Kumar Chadha described the horror of waking up to the sound of glass breaking and debris falling. “There was a huge blast. I was sleeping when it happened. All our windows shattered, and our vehicles were wrecked. It doesn’t matter what religion you follow these attacks hit everyone,” he said, surveying the damage to his home.
Defence sources confirmed that Indian forces swiftly acted against the origin points of the attacks. Pakistani drone launch pads and forward positions near Jammu were destroyed in targeted strikes. Indian air defence systems had already been placed on high alert prior to the attack and successfully intercepted several incoming threats.
Pakistan Shells Jammu After India Strikes on Terror Camps
The current escalation follows retaliatory airstrikes launched by India on May 7, which targeted terror infrastructure and military installations across the border in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22. Pakistan’s shelling of civilian areas in Jammu is viewed as a provocative response to those earlier strikes.
With tensions peaking, large areas of Jammu remain on high alert. Surface-to-air missile systems are fully deployed, while ground forces continue to monitor the border for any further signs of aggression. Residents, meanwhile, are left to recover from the trauma of a night that brought back memories of earlier conflicts—and the worry that more could follow.
