MS Nazki
Poonch, Feb 27 : India and Pakistan on Wednesday evening exchanged fire in Poonch district of Jammu region amid heightened tensions between the two countries following air strikes across the LoC.
An official said that fresh shelling erupted at Mankote, Balakote and Mendhar sectors Wednesday evening. The Indo-Pak armies exchanged heavy shelling in these sectors. The residents of these areas are frightened due to escalation.
The official said that it was not immediately known whether there was any causality in these sectors by Pakistani shelling.
When reports last came in, the cross-border shelling was intermittently going on.
Meanwhile, at least 20 villages of Balakote, Mankote and Mendhar areas of Poonch district are living in a frightening situation since last couple of days amid continuous cross-border shelling.
Reports reaching GNS said that the people living in this situation are distressed and frightened.
There is no mobile connectivity in the Balakote sector and people are also suffering due to lack of essential commodities for the last three days.
Zaheer Ahmad, president of Youth Front said the people of the Balkakote area had to move far off places that too towards a mountain to get the access to communicate to know the wellbeing of each other or their relatives.
He said people in these areas are living in a distressed situation amid a scarcity of essential commodities.
The concerned SDM Dr Sahil Jindiyal said 20 villages are living in shelling prone areas and are most affected.
“Regarding the scarcity of essential commodities, we have made adequate arrangements for the people,” he said.
