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Significant risk to Uri hydro plant: Pakistan retaliation met swift CISF action during Operation Sindoor; how families were evacuated in time - ToI

Pakistan's retaliation put the Uri hydroelectric plant near the Line of Control (LoC) under significant risk during a high-risk security situation that unfolded after India launched Operation Sindoor. However, the CISF successfully foiled the attempted attack, protecting both the power project and the residents living nearby.

On Tuesday, the CISF honoured 19 of its personnel with the director general's disc for their extraordinary courage during this high-risk situation. The awards were presented at a ceremony in the CISF headquarters, where the leadership praised the team for safeguarding a critical national installation during intense cross-border shelling.

The CISF provided counterterror security cover to the Uri Hydro Electric Power Projects (UHEP-I and II), located along the Jhelum river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, located 8-10 kms from the LoC.

The personnel have been honoured and recognise for their door-to-door evacuation of civilians in the time of high military tensions. The troops evacuated women, children, NHPC (national hydroelectric power corporation) staff and their families -- amidst Pakistani shelling.

"Their prompt and fearless actions ensured the safe evacuation of around 250 civilians, preventing any loss of life. Even as rounds landed dangerously close to the premises, the personnel continued to reinforce bunkers, maintain communication lines through POLNET and satellite systems, and provide emergency assistance," the statement said.

The troops also neutralised "hostile" drones targeting Indian installations and secured armoury stockpiles by quickly redistributing weapons to avoid potential destruction, it added.

Throughout the crisis, the "integrity" of critical national assets remained protected due to the vigilance and preparedness of the CISF personnel, the statement said.

Commandant Ravi Yadav, along with deputy commandant Manohar Singh and assistant commandant Subash Kumar, led teams at Uri-I and Uri-II in initiating immediate protective measures for the installations and nearby townships.

The personnel recognised include constables, head constables, inspectors and sub-inspectors from both Uri units. Among them are Constables Sushil Vasant Kamble, Raziqe Ahmad Abdul Rafique, Wankhede Ravindra Gulab, Tridev Chakma, Sohan Lal, Mufeed Ahmad, Mahesh Kumar and Sandenaboina Raju; Head Constables Gurjit Singh, Manoj Kumar Sharma and Ram Lal; Inspector Deepak Kumar Jha; Sub-inspectors Anil Kumar and Deepak Kumar; and Assistant Sub-Inspectors Rajeev Kumar and Sukhdev Singh.

According to the CISF, "They carried out real-time analysis of incoming shell trajectories, identified safe zones and organised the relocation of residents to bunker shelters.

"India launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6-7, under which 9 major terror hideouts were blown to bits in Pakistan and PoK. This counterterror action was taken as a strong retaliatory measure after a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in South Kashmir's Pahalgam.