Nearly 1,000 villages evacuated in Punjab after Wednesday's surgical strike

FP Staff • September 30, 2016, 12:38:15 IST

Residents of nearly 1,000 villages in Punjab districts bordering Pakistan are being evacuated following escalation of tension between India and Pakistan after surgical strikes by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian army conducted surgical strikes on terror launchpads along Line of Control (LoC), on Wednesday night after which Punjab villages near the international border (IB) have started evacuating. Image courtesy: Parabjot

Hundreds of villages between Pathankot and Fazilkah have been evacuated. Image courtesy: Parabjot

On Thursday after the announcement made by the MEA and DGMO on the surgical strikes conducted by Indian armed forces, villagers headed towards the interiors of Punjab on scooters, bikes, two-wheelers, cars, carts, trucks and boats. Image courtesy: Parabjot

The Indo-Pak trade was not affected on Thursday as there was no restriction on the movement of trucks from both sides. Image courtesy: Parabjot

“We are trying to evacuate residents of around 1,000 villages. Camps are being set up to accommodate people. We have made all preparations,” Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal told media after an emergency meeting of the Punjab Cabinet in Chandigarh. Image courtesy: Parabjot

Punjab CM Badal has said that the Punjab government will not raise the issue of expenses incurred on the evacuation with the Centre at this juncture. Image courtesy: Parabjot

Army convoys could be seen moving towards the various Punjab districts bordering Pakistan, including Fazilka, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot. Punjab was put on maximum alert on Thursday while villagers living close to the border were told to move to safer locations. Image courtesy: Parabjot