Poonch Hospitals Overwhelmed as Shelling Turns Homes into War Zones After Operation Sindoor
Poonch in Pain: Hospitals Overwhelmed as Shelling Turns Homes into War Zones
Hospitals in Poonch and nearby LoC regions are overwhelmed after Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling. Operation Sindoor's aftermath has left civilians and medics battling trauma.
May 7, 2025, started like any other night in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. But by dawn, it turned into a nightmare. As Operation Sindoor rocked terror launchpads across the border, what followed was nothing short of devastation for innocent civilians caught in Pakistan’s retaliation.
With shells raining down on Balakote, Mendhar, Krishna Ghati, and Mankote, the picturesque hills of Poonch turned into a battlefield. Amidst the smoke and rubble, hospitals—especially the District Hospital in Poonch—are now the last lines of hope for dozens of injured souls.
A Bloodied Morning, A Broken Town
By early Wednesday, hospitals began receiving an unending stream of wounded men, women, and children. Among them was 12-year-old Rukshana, her arm torn and skull fractured in the shelling. Doctors wrapped her head in gauze and tried to soothe her frightened eyes—eyes that had just seen her brother die on the doorstep.
At least 12–15 civilians have lost their lives in Poonch alone. Among them, tragically, were four children and three worshippers struck while praying at the historic Central Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha. Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, a brave Indian soldier, also fell while protecting his post.
The trauma is not just physical—it’s emotional, generational. "This isn’t just a ceasefire violation," said local teacher Ghulam Nabi. "This is a war on our lives."
Inside the Hospitals: Crisis and Courage
The Poonch District Hospital, a modest facility, is bursting at the seams. Stretchers line corridors. Bloodied clothes fill bins. Nurses work without breaks. “We haven’t seen such chaos since 2019,” whispered Dr. Sameer Bhat, bandaging a child’s leg. “And we weren’t prepared for this scale.”
The government has responded swiftly. Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened an emergency meeting, directing the health department to mobilize blood banks, essential medicines, and trauma surgeons. Ambulances ferry critical patients to Jammu’s Government Medical College Hospital, which has seen a surge in both admissions and heroism—local youth are lining up to donate blood in droves.
“I’ve never donated blood before,” said Amanpreet Singh, 22. “But after hearing three Sikhs were killed in the Gurdwara, I couldn’t stay home.”
A Warzone Without Borders
Beyond Poonch, the carnage stretches across Rajouri, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Uri. Each of these districts reports damage to homes, shattered schools, and frightened civilians hiding in basements or being evacuated to temporary camps in Chandak, Lassana, and Sathra.
In Uri, a young girl with facial injuries was rushed to a local clinic, her mother holding her tightly as gunfire echoed in the background. In Kupwara’s Karnah, mosques used loudspeakers to plead with residents: “Stay indoors. Stay alive.”
Yet hospitals in these remote areas are poorly equipped. While district emergency operation centers have been activated, there are growing concerns over understaffing and limited trauma care. Many patients are forced to undertake long, dangerous journeys to Srinagar or Jammu—roads riddled with checkpoints, fear, and debris.
The Politics and Propaganda of Pain
Operation Sindoor, launched by India to neutralize cross-border terror infrastructure, struck nine terror camps in PoK in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan responded not with diplomacy, but with deadly retaliation—targeting civilians. Pakistan’s military spokesperson claimed India killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, but Indian authorities firmly reject this, calling it “fabricated misinformation.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan closed its airspace and declared a hospital emergency in Punjab, hinting at further escalation. India's Home Minister Amit Shah has urged hospitals to remain fully operational and sanctioned ₹5 crore to each border district for emergency use.
Hope Amid Horror
In this darkness, there are sparks of light. Blood donation camps in Jammu are packed. Volunteers are coordinating food and supplies for the displaced. Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal has been leading from the front, setting up shelters and coordinating medical evacuations.
Doctors work through sleepless nights. Residents help ferry the injured on motorcycles when ambulances can’t reach. Teenagers distribute water bottles to patients’ families waiting in the heat. Despite fear, there is unity. Despite loss, there is resilience.
What Now?
As shelling continues into May 8, the region remains on high alert. Hospitals are stretched thin, but the spirit of the people remains unbreakable. Civilian casualties in conflict zones are not just statistics—they’re stories. Each bandage tells one. Each blood bag donated is an act of resistance against violence.
And for Rukshana, lying in bed with bandages around her head, the only war she wants to see end is the one keeping her away from her school, her friends, and her home.
Sources:
- ANI, CNN-News18, India Today, The Hindu
- X posts from @ANI, @timesnow, @republic
- J&K Govt Emergency Health Directives, May 2025
- Live updates from Poonch and Rajouri residents via verified social handles