 "How 19 CISF bravehearts thwarted Pakistan's attack on Uri hydro plant")
India has felicitated the 19 brave Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel who helped thwart Pakistan’s attack on hydroelectric projects at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla during Operation Sindoor in May. The attack was foiled by this small team of CISF personnel, which ensured the strategic installation did not sustain damage, the CISF said in a statement on Tuesday (November 25).
In early May, India launched military strikes on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan had launched retaliatory strikes on India’s border districts, which were foiled by the Indian Armed Forces.
Let’s take a closer look.
When Uri hydro projects came under Pak strikes
Hours after India launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of Tuesday (May 6) and Wednesday (May 7), Pakistan targeted the Uri hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, a team of 19 CISF personnel foiled Islamabad’s attacks in a true display of valour and grit.
According to CISF’s statement, these personnel, who were on duty at the Uri Hydro Electric Power Projects (UHEP- I and II) that night, neutralised drones targeting the installation and evacuated civilians amid shelling from Pakistan.
“Amid intense cross-border shelling in May 2025, CISF teams at Uri Hydro Electric Projects displayed extraordinary courage, safeguarding vital national assets and evacuating 250 civilians to safety despite the high risk to their own lives,” the central force said in a statement.
How CISF foiled Pakistan’s strikes
After India’s military strikes, Pakistan retaliated by launching “intense and indiscriminate shelling on Indian territory, endangering vital infrastructure, including the Uri hydro-power projects, and threatening nearby civilian populations,” the CISF said in a statement.
The Uri hydro plant, located on the River Jhelum in Baramulla district, is just a few kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC).
“CISF units at the [National Hydroelectric Power Corporation] NHPC installations found themselves at the forefront of this sudden escalation,” the force said.
“Led by Commandant Ravi Yadav, with the officers and personnel carried out real-time threat analysis, reinforced bunkers, maintained critical communications, neutralised hostile drones and ensured zero civilian casualties - upholding the highest standards of Protection & Security,” it added.
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View AllDespite the heavy firing, the CISF personnel shot down enemy drones targeting the installations and “secured armoury stockpiles by swiftly redistributing weapons to prevent potential destruction.”
“Throughout the crisis, the integrity of critical national assets remained intact due to their vigilance and preparedness,” the force said.
CISF Personnel Honoured With The DG’s Disc For Exceptional Bravery During Operation Sindoor
— CISF (@CISFHQrs) November 25, 2025
Amid intense cross-border shelling in May 2025, CISF teams at Uri Hydro Electric Projects displayed extraordinary courage, safeguarding vital national assets and evacuating 250 civilians… pic.twitter.com/NPd0KkHaVp
As shells threatened nearby people, the personnel went door-to-door to evacuate civilians, including women, children, NHPC staff and their families.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gurjeet Singh said that waking up sleeping families was the “only difficulty” as they “did not know what was happening”.
“As soon as India launched Operation Sindoor and bombed the terror bases there, we received a message from the headquarters asking us to switch off lights and be on high alert,” Singh said.
He explained that the CISF had already begun drills on mass evacuation of families to bunkers amid concerns of a potential Pakistani attack.
An officer aware of the development told HT, “The Uri projects are right at the LOC so it was the first to be targeted. The government’s intelligence network was strong and the on-ground troops were prepared. Not only were drones shot down but a massive evacuation was also done without any loss of life.”
POLNET is a satellite-based communication system.
“Even as rounds landed dangerously close to the premises, the personnel continued to reinforce bunkers, maintain communication lines through POLNET and satellite systems, and provide emergency assistance,” the CISF said.
Brave CISF personnel felicitated
The 19 CISF personnel were felicitated with the prestigious Director General (DGs) disc at a ceremony at CISF headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Commanding Officer Ravi Yadav, Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh, Assistant Commandant Subhash Kumar, Inspector Deepak Kumar Jha, Sub-Inspectors Anil Kumar and Deepak Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Rajeev Kumar and Sukhdev Singh and Head Constables Manoj Kumar Sharma, Ram Lal and Gurjit Singh, Constables Sushil V Kamble, Razique Rafique, Ravindra Wankhede, Tridev Chakma, Sohan Lal, Mufeed Ahmad, Mahesh Kumar and Sandenaboina Raju were among those honoured.
With inputs from agencies
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