In a major escalation along the Line of Control (LoC), seven civilians — including a woman and two children — lost their lives, while 38 others sustained injuries following heavy artillery and mortar shelling by the Pakistan Army on Wednesday. The shelling targeted dozens of forward villages in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Poonch district being the worst hit, accounting for all seven fatalities and 25 of the injuries, according to local officials.

The Indian Army has responded to the ceasefire violation with retaliatory fire, officials confirmed, stating that the action follows India’s recent missile strikes on nine terror launch pads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Civilian properties suffered extensive damage, especially in areas like Irwan Khanetar village in Rajouri, where residents were seen assessing the aftermath of the overnight assault.

Additional injuries were reported from other districts, with ten people wounded in the Uri sector of Baramulla and three more in Rajouri. The incident has reignited tensions along the sensitive border region, raising concerns about further escalation. Security forces remain on high alert, and relief operations have been initiated to assist affected villagers amid continued exchange of fire.