SRINAGAR: Office of the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Poonch has ordered the closure of all government and private schools in the district for Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The directive was issued as a precautionary measure amid ongoing cross-border shelling and heightened tensions following India’s missile strikes Pakistan. These strikes, part of Operation Sindoor, were conducted in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives, including several tourists.
Earlier in the day, media reports confirmed that at least 12 civilians, including four children and two women, were killed and over 50 injured in heavy shelling by Pakistan. Several houses have been damaged by the shelling in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, and Kupwara. Residents from several forward villages in these districts have been evacuated to safer zones by authorities.
The district administration has mobilised resources to support displaced residents and ensure their safety. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha have both held high-level emergency meetings to monitor the situation and coordinate responses, including the disbursement of contingency funds and deployment of medical and logistical support in affected areas.
