A high-alert has been sounded along the International Border with Pakistan and forward areas located close to the line of Control (loC) in Jammu & Kashmir following punitive surgical strikes on various terror launch pads inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in the wee hours of Thursday.

Foot soldiers of Border Security Force (BSF) have already enhanced their patrolling in the area and whereever required additional troops have been rushed to beef up their own defences.

Hundreds of border residents living in the direct line of fire have been shifted to safer places as tension prevailed in the area.

The Army authorities in Rajori and Poonch have directed the villagers living ahead of the border fence to stay alert and ready to be evacuated at short notice.

Similarly, border villages in Bhimber area of Nowshera in Rajori district were also relocated to safer places fearing strong retaliation by Pakistani Army in the same sector.

The thunderous roar of helicopters circling over their homes forced the border villagers to spend sleepless night.

BJP MlA from Nowshera Assembly segment Ravinder Raina told The Pioneer, “Villagers living in forward villages have been shifted to safer places by the district administration”.

He said the Indian forces are on high alert in the area.

Meanwhile, the district administration in Jammu on Thursday ordered closure of all educational institutions falling under nine different educational zones of khour, Jourian, Marh, RS Pura, Arnia, Satwari, Akhnoor,Bisnah, and Miran Sahib.

Tension prevailed along border villages in Kathua and Samba and villagers have been alerted by the district authorities to remain in a stay of high alert fearing fresh escalation.

Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh chaired a high level security review meeting with divisional officers of Jammu province and ordered shifting of border residents from vulnerable areas  along the International border.

Various school buildings and community centres have been made available to the border residents so that they can take shelter at night.

local authorities have been directed to remain vigilant to respond to the emergency situation in the wake of fresh escalation of tension along the borders. The village defence committees have been activated and deployed on ground zero.