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‘Not a single bunker’ in Uri sector year after Op Sindoor

  • Idrees Bukhtiyar By Idrees Bukhtiyar
  • Comments 0
  • 03 Apr 2026

‘Over 500 bunkers sanctioned by MHA, but no groundwork started’

Srinagar, Apr 03: Nearly a year after the Operation Sindoor, not a single underground bunker has been constructed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, raising concerns among residents who continue to live under the threat of cross-border shelling.

Operation Sindoor was carried out on the night of May 7-8, 2025, in response to heightened tensions along the LoC. However, villagers in forward areas of Uri say that despite repeated assurances, the promised safety infrastructure remains on paper.

Residents of several LoC villages told Rising Kashmir that as the anniversary of the operation approaches, there has been no visible progress on bunker construction. “It has been almost a year, but we haven’t seen even a single bunker coming up in our village. During shelling, we have nowhere safe to go,” said Shabir Ahmad Naik, an ex-sarpanch of Garkote village of Uri.

Lal Hussain Kohli, a resident of Charunda village along the LoC, said that not a single bunker has been constructed in their area. “Authorities claim to have done a lot for border residents, but no community bunker has been built here. Who will be responsible for our safety if anything happens to us?” he asked.

Another local, Irshad Ahmad from Silikote village, said there are no functional bunkers available for their safety in case of cross-border shelling. “Two or three bunkers exist in our area, but they were built around six years ago and are now in a dilapidated condition. They are unfit for use and are not being maintained,” he said.

Last month, the Uri administration stated that more than 80 overhead protection trenches (OPTs) had been constructed in vulnerable villages to provide immediate shelter during emergencies. However, locals argue that these trenches are not a substitute for permanent bunkers.

“Overhead trenches may help temporarily, but they cannot withstand heavy shelling. We need proper underground bunkers for long-term safety,” said Tariq Hashim, a local of Kamalkote village. “Every time tensions rise, we are forced to leave our homes or take risky shelter in unsafe places.”

In January this year, the then Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, had announced that over 500 bunkers had been sanctioned for the Uri sector by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department. The construction was expected to begin in the next working season, starting in April 2026.

However, locals claim that no groundwork has started so far. “We heard about the sanctioning of bunkers, but on the ground, nothing has changed. Even though April has begun, there is no sign of construction,” said Talib Hussain, a local of Hathlanga village.

Residents have urged the administration to expedite the process, stressing that the absence of bunkers continues to put civilian lives at risk in the volatile border region.

“Whenever tensions escalate along the LoC, the government is reminded of bunkers. But why can’t they provide them now, when there is peace, and it is easier to construct them?” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Uri.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri, Prince Kumar, did not respond to multiple calls from Rising Kashmir.

However, a senior official in Baramulla district administration said that some overhead protection trenches have been constructed in the Uri area. “But the construction of underground community bunkers may still take time,” he added.

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