Schools closed near LoC, high alert in J&K

Amid mounting tension between Indian and Pakistani armies, authorities on Wednesday ordered temporary closure of educational institutions in a five-km radius along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said there was night long-heavy firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in most of areas in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. “The border residents have been asked to remain inside their homes and not venture outside. Also, all the educational institutions close to the LoC have been closed till further orders,” they said.

Reports said panic gripped residents in some border areas, they left their homes and moved to safer areas. Pakistan on Wednesday said that its jets crossed the Line of Control to undertake strikes in India for "self-defence".

Indian officials said Pakistani fighter jets violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Nowshera sectors but were pushed back by Indian Air Force (IAF).

In the wake of Pakistan's air strikes, authorities also placed corps headquarters, brigade headquarters and other major army and para-military camps in the state of high alert. “All airports in the state have been put on a high alert and all precautionary measures have been taken to prevent attacks, while strict vigil is being maintained along the LoC and other routes that could be used for retaliatory strikes by Pakistan,” sources said.

They said that police control rooms in Kashmir and Jammu regions have been asked to remain alert and stay in touch with the superiors by “passing all urgent information without any delay”. “Technology-guided surveillance gadgets have been deployed at vital installations and along the borders to detect any movement from the other side,” sources said.

Airbases in Punjab and the military unit based in Himachal Pradesh have also been alerted to monitor activities in Jammu and Kashmir, they added.