Srinagar, April 26 -- Across villages in Poonch, Rajouri, and northern Kashmir areas like Uri, Keran, Tangdhar, and Gurez, residents are engaged in a determined effort to clear and maintain long-abandoned underground bunkers. These shelters, built by the government to protect civilians from cross-border firing, are being rediscovered and readied for potential use.

"Nobody knows what will happen next," said Balbir Kour, a former village leader from Treva in the R S Pura sector. "We have decided to prepare the underground bunkers so that we can save ourselves in case there is shelling or firing from across the border."

The renewed sense of urgency comes despite a period of relative peace following the 2021 ceasefire, which brought much-ne...