Amit Shah approves ₹25 crore compensation for 2,060 houses damaged in J&K by Pakistani shelling post Operation Sindoor
The announcement by Amit Shah comes after PM Narendra Modi promised additional compensation for houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir
A month after the Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday facilitated an additional provision of ₹25 crore from the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2,060 houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in border districts.
The announcement by Amit Shah comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised additional compensation for houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Modi had announced an additional compensation of ₹2 lakh for each fully damaged house and ₹1 lakh for each partially damaged house. The Home Ministry ensured swift implementation of the decision and stated that similar compensation will also be provided in the border areas of Punjab.
Earlier on 29–30 May 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch.
During the visit, he handed over appointment letters on compassionate grounds to the family members of those who lost their lives due to cross-border firing. According to the norms. compensation for the damages caused by cross-border shelling was provided immediately.
Following Operation Sindoor, several incidents of cross-border shelling were reported in border districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Due to this, hundreds of families living on residential areas, schools, religious structures including Gurudwaras, temples, mosques and commercial properties suffered. The administration took proactive measures to anticipate possible events and ensure effective response.
According to the government release, 3.25 lakh people were evacuated from the border districts, of whom about 15,000 were accommodated in about 397 shelter sheds/accommodation centres equipped with facilities like food, water, health care, electricity, etc.
A total of 394 ambulances were deployed in all border districts to take patients to hospitals for treatment, out of which 62 ambulances were deployed in Poonch district alone.
A total of 2,818 civil defence volunteers were also deployed for services related to health, fire and emergency services, livestock and essential supplies.
In a major relief move, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved a ₹25 crore compensation package for 2,060 houses damaged by Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. This announcement comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a high-impact military operation aimed at neutralizing cross-border terror infrastructure in the region.
The compensation package is part of a broader initiative to support civilian populations affected by cross-border hostilities, which have spiked since the conclusion of Operation Sindoor. The financial aid will be disbursed to residents in the border districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara, and Baramulla, which witnessed intense shelling from across the border in the past few weeks.
Following Operation Sindoor — a targeted operation by the Indian Army in May 2025 to dismantle terrorist launchpads across the LoC — Pakistan retaliated with a series of heavy artillery shelling incidents. While the Indian armed forces responded effectively, local civilian infrastructure bore the brunt of the aggression.
According to official data from the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority, 2,060 homes sustained varying degrees of damage ranging from minor cracks to complete structural collapse. Over 7,500 residents were displaced temporarily, many of whom were housed in relief camps set up by the administration.
“The border population has suffered enormously not just physically but emotionally. This compensation is a small step toward helping them rebuild their lives,” said an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Every citizen living on the border is a warrior in their own right. The government of India stands with them. The ₹25 crore package is meant to help them get back on their feet with dignity.”
He also emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, border infrastructure and civilian safety are of paramount concern. “We are accelerating the construction of underground bunkers and improving early warning systems to minimize civilian casualties in future incidents,” Shah added.
Each affected family will receive compensation based on the severity of damage:
- ₹1.2 lakh for fully damaged houses
- ₹70,000 for partially damaged homes
- ₹30,000 for houses with minor structural impact
District magistrates and local revenue officers are currently conducting ground-level surveys to verify claims. Compensation disbursement is expected to begin within the next two weeks, according to J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.
In addition to cash compensation, affected families will receive assistance in the form of temporary housing materials, food kits, and medical support. Local NGOs and the Indian Red Cross Society are also involved in delivering relief packages to impacted areas.
Operation Sindoor was launched in May 2025 following intelligence inputs about increased terrorist activity across the LoC, particularly in areas controlled by Pakistan’s ISI-backed militant groups. The operation led to the neutralization of 18 terrorists, destruction of five launchpads, and seizure of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
While the Indian Army called the operation a “tactical success,” retaliatory shelling by Pakistan caused significant disruption in border villages. Analysts suggest that while such operations are necessary for national security, a comprehensive civilian safety strategy must be integral to military planning.
Residents of the affected areas have welcomed the compensation move, calling it “much-needed” and “timely.” However, several local leaders have urged the Centre to introduce a long-term policy for rehabilitating border communities frequently caught in conflict.
Omar Abdullah, former J&K Chief Minister, tweeted: “Glad to see compensation being announced, but we also need long-term peace and protection for our border residents who are living in constant fear.”
With the monsoon season approaching and border tensions still simmering, the situation remains delicate. The Centre has directed paramilitary forces and the Indian Army to remain on high alert, while local authorities have been asked to ensure proper implementation of the compensation scheme.
The ₹25 crore aid package is not just a financial lifeline but a symbolic message: that India stands by its citizens, especially those living on the frontlines of national security.
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