Indian Army hands over first concrete bomb shelter to villagers in J&K`s Poonch

Jammu: The Indian Army Monday handed over the first concrete bomb shelter to villagers living near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir`s Poonch district.

"As part of civic activities under Sadbhavana (Goodwill) initiative, the Army at Saujiyan constructed an underground concrete bomb shelter at Gali Maidan near the LoC in Poonch district," army spokseman, Lt.Col. Manish Mehta told IANS here, adding that the inauguration and handing over of the shelter ceremony was held today in presence of a large number of villagers and the local army commander.

"The need for this bomb shelter was felt after numerous casualties of villagers took place in the frequent unprovoked firing across the LoC in which the Pakistan Army targeted Indian posts and locals.

"The concrete shelter will provide protection not only to the villagers, but it will also be useful to the Bakarwals (nomadic goatherds) passing through the village," he said, adding that the underground shelter cost approximately Rs 8 lakh and has the provision of attached toilet and solar lighting.