Intense cross-border shelling rattled Nowshera, Suderbani and Mendhar KG areas along the Line of Control in Jammu province since last evening, officials said on Wednesday.
An official source said that firing started in Krishna Ghatiarea in Mendhar sub-division last evening and continued until 9pm.
Heavy mortar shelling triggered panic in the area, he said.
In Sunderbani, cross-border firing and shelling started at10.30pm Tuesday and continued until 5am Wednesday, the source said.
Both sides exchanged heavy gunfire, with Madahdev and Mainkaareas worst-hit, he said.
In third such incident in Nowshera area, firing started ataround 10.30am Wednesday.
“Intense firing and shelling between the two sides startedin Kalal, Baba Khori and Deeing areas in Kalal (Nowshera) and continued formore than five hours,” the source said.
Besides use of small arms and mortar shelling, both sidesfired at each other with long-range high explosive artillery shells, triggeringpanic in civilian areas where some of these shells landed—barely threekilometers inside the Line of Control, according to official sources andlocals.
“We spent another tough day as highly explosive artilleryshells exploded near our houses, shaking the entire area. It seemed as if avery powerful earthquake took place,” said residents of Kalal.
A Jammu-based army spokesman, lieutenant colonel DevinderAnand said in a statement that Pakistan “continued its nefarious designs andinitiated unprovoked ceasefire violation”.
“In Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors, Pakistani army resortedto heavy shelling alongwith artillery and firing of small arms along LoC onWednesday morning”, he said.
The Indian army is retaliating strongly and effectively,Anand said.
Meanwhile, armies of India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fireacross the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir onWednesday.
Reports said the exchange of fire started early morning inMankote area.