Op Sindoor aftermath: Villages flee as shelling escalates

Cross-border firing forces mass evacuations in J&K's border districts. Thousands fled overnight as homes burned and fields turned to rubble.

Transcript

00:00As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, panic grips border villages in Jammu and Kishmir.

00:19Heavy cross-border shelling and fresh strikes have forced thousands to flee their homes overnight.

00:30Evacuation operations are underway in Samba, Kathua, Rajauri and Poonch districts.

00:37Authorities are moving civilians to makeshift shelters in government buildings and schools.

00:41Long queues of villagers carrying bags, cattle and children can be seen leaving everything behind.

00:46Many say they have seen houses collapse, livestock perish and fields catch fire in the shelling.

00:51Police and army units are coordinating safe passage for the elderly, women and children.

00:55This night, it was about 3-3 o'clock in Pakistan.

01:00In which we had a very bad situation in our mosque.

01:03We had made this individual themselves.

01:06After eating this, their homes were abandoned.

01:09Their children were very difficult at night.

01:11Our children were also difficult at night.

01:12Ambulances, buses and even private vehicles are being used to speed up the process.

01:16Officials fear the escalation may continue, urging people within 5 km of the LOC to evacuate.

01:21Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Umar Abdullah visited affected areas in Jammu and appealed for calm.

01:30For civilians here, this is a full blown war zone.