Government official in Rajouri, 4 other civilians killed in shelling

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan killed five people, including a senior J&K official, and wounded several others across Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu districts Saturday, while a series of explosions rocked Srinagar, triggering panic across the city.

Rajouri district's additional district development commissioner Dr Raj Kumar Thapa, a 1989 medical graduate from Govt Medical College, Jammu, died when an artillery shell struck his official residence. Two other govt employees present at Thapa's residence were critically wounded and rushed to hospital.

"Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of J&K administration services," CM Omar Abdullah posted on X. "Just yesterday he was accompanying dyCM around the district and attended an online meeting I chaired... May his soul rest in peace."

Among the fatalities were two-year-old girl Aisha Noor and Mohd Shohib, 35, - killed near an industrial zone in Rajouri. Rashida Bi, 55, died when a mortar shell hit her home in Kanghra-Galhutta village of Poonch's Mendhar sector.

J&K CM Omar announces Rs 10L ex gratia for kin of deceased

Ashok Kumar was killed in RS Pura sector along international border in Jammu. Zakir Hussain, 45, died in a shell blast in Kheri Keran Bantalab area of Jammu.

CM Abdullah announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for kin of those killed. "While no compensation can ever replace a loved one or heal the trauma... this is a gesture of support and solidarity," he said, after visiting affected areas in Jammu.

Artillery shells and suspected drones hit residential neighbourhoods in Jammu city, including Rehari and Roopnagar, wounding several civilians. In Srinagar, loud explosions rattled the city early morning, hours after multiple drone attacks were launched across the Valley. Air defence systems intercepted drones, preventing casualties. By noon, normalcy had returned to most parts of Srinagar, but two fresh explosions were reported - one from Dal Lake after a projectile hit the waterbody, and another from Lasjan. Both are being probed.

Northern Kashmir's LoC sectors of Uri, Tangdhar, Gurez, and Keran faced intense overnight shelling, damaging dozens of homes. Hundreds of families fled to govt shelters in Baramulla and Kupwara.