Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Fear and Devastation After India’s Operation Sindoor Strikes in Pakistan and PoK

 

Following India’s high-intensity military operation codenamed Operation Sindoor, conducted across the Line of Control (LoC) and deep into Pakistani territory, harrowing firsthand accounts have emerged from towns in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Residents in these areas described a terrifying night marked by loud explosions, blazing skies, and widespread panic.

The BBC Urdu reported eyewitness testimonies from multiple locations, including Muridke, a town near Lahore and known headquarters of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, as well as Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.

These accounts offered a glimpse into the civilian toll of the precision strikes launched by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation for a recent deadly terror attack in Kashmir.

Muridke: “The Sky Turned Red”

In Nangal Sahadan, a village on the outskirts of Muridke, a resident named Atif told the BBC he had been lying on his roof when the missiles began to descend.

“Two missiles flew overhead. One of them struck the ground, causing a complete power outage. The lights returned shortly, and then the second missile hit,” he recounted.

“The noise was deafening, and for a moment, the sky seemed to turn red.”

Atif and other locals believe the area near the Markaz Tayyiba mosque, a prominent religious and educational complex, was a major target.

Fortunately, many had evacuated the area days before the strike due to circulating rumours of a possible attack.

“People had already begun leaving after word spread about a potential strike. The usually crowded Markaz was nearly deserted,” he said.

Another witness, Hassan, confirmed the sequence of events. According to him, just hours after local announcements about schools reopening, four missiles struck the region at 12:35 a.m.

“We were sleeping on the roof when the first missile arrived with a thunderous boom. Then three more followed. One even flew directly above us,” he said.

Mohammad Bilal, another resident of the same village, said he was preparing for morning prayers when the blasts began.

“I was on the roof to hear the azaan when I saw a missile explode nearby. I ran straight to the mosque,” he recalled.

Muhammad Yunus Shah described the damage to an educational facility in the vicinity, which included a school, a college, a medical center, and residential quarters.

“Four missiles hit the complex. There is still widespread fear. Fire trucks, rescue teams, and police personnel are everywhere,” he said.

Muzaffarabad: “It Felt Like an Earthquake”

In Muzaffarabad, similar chaos unfolded. Muhammad Waheed, a resident living near Bilal Mosque, told the BBC that his house trembled violently with the first blast.

“People ran outside in confusion and fear. Before anyone could understand what had happened, three more missiles followed,” he said.

Another resident, Abdul Basit Awan, likened the initial explosion to a gas cylinder blast.

“It started with a loud boom, and within minutes, there was a rapid series of missile strikes,” he said. His daughter sustained injuries in the strike, and several homes belonging to his relatives were damaged.

“This has always been a peaceful area. We’ve lived here for generations. The Jama Masjid nearby was never used for any terror-related activity,” he insisted.

Indian Military’s Targets and Intentions

According to the Indian Army, Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist hideouts and training camps located in multiple towns in Pakistan’s Punjab province and PoK. The Indian side confirmed that strikes were carried out in:

• Pakistan: Ahmedpur Sharqia, Muridke, Sialkot, and Shakargarh
• PoK: Muzaffarabad and Kotli regions

The specific targets included known terror-linked sites:

• In Pakistan:
  • Sarjal Camp, Sialkot
  • Mehmoona Joya and Markaz Taiba, Muridke
  • Markaz Subhanallah, Bahawalpur
• In PoK:
  • Sawai Nala and Syedna Bilal, Muzaffarabad
  • Gulpur Camp and Abbas Camp, Kotli
  • Barnala Camp, Bhimber

Casualties and Damage

The Pakistan military acknowledged that 24 missiles were fired at nine locations. Official figures state that at least eight civilians, including women and children, were killed, and 35 others were injured. Two individuals were reported missing at the time of the latest updates.

Rescue operations continued in the affected areas throughout the day, with emergency responders working to extinguish fires, recover the injured, and search for those unaccounted for.