NEW DELHI: In the remote border villages of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, life has once again taken a cautious turn. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam which killed 26 and sent shockwaves across the Union territory, residents living along the Line of Control (LoC) have begun cleaning and preparing their underground bunkers — a stark reminder of the volatility that once defined daily life here.
The bunkers, popularly known as “Modi bunkers” are being stacked with essentials like blankets and bedding, with villagers bracing for the worst.
What are ‘Modi bunkers’?
“Modi bunker” is an informal term used to describe the underground bunkers constructed along the Line of Control (LoC) to protect civilians from cross-border shelling. These bunkers, built in large numbers during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second tenure, were part of a major government initiative to enhance the safety of residents living near conflict-prone border areas.
In the past, the government has extended financial aid and technical assistance for building individual and community bunkers in high-risk areas like Poonch and Rajouri.
In 2021, around 8,000 underground bunkers were built along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu province, officials said. The Centre had initially sanctioned 14,460 bunkers across five districts — Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Poonch, and Rajouri — with an additional 4,000 later approved to cover more vulnerable populations.
‘People had forgotten the bunkers’
Speaking to ANI, a Karmarha village resident said, “The people had forgotten the bunkers. The bunkers are being cleaned again now. There is an atmosphere of fear, but we hope harmony will prevail in the valley.”
Extending support for the government, another resident said, “We are with the government, we stand by them. We strongly condemn the terror attack, we are in support of our army and administration. Whenever they need us, we are ready to provide any possible support, even lay down our lives.”
“Earlier, there used to be firing incidents in this area. Our village is located near the LoC. We are cleaning the bunkers so that we can move our family to safety during such incidents. We are thankful to the central government for providing us with such bunkers,” he added.
The Pahalgam incident, which resulted in the deaths of both security personnel and civilians, has raised fears about increased cross-border infiltration and the possibility of renewed tensions along vulnerable areas of the border.
