Jammu News: Schools and colleges in non-border districts to reopen; bordering districts to remain shut

India-Pakistan conflict: The Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Education Department said on Monday educational institutions in non-border districts of the Union Territory will reopen on Tuesday, while those located in border districts will remain closed.

According to the education department, all government and private schools in Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban districts of Jammu division will open on May 13, 2025. And all private and govt schools in Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba and Udhampur districts will remain closed Tuesday.

The schools were shut on May 8 after tensions between India and Pakistan increased following Operation Sindoor.

India’s Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The operation had targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"The Education Department has announced the reopening of educational institutions in non-border districts of Jammu, while schools in border districts will remain closed. This decision was made after a thorough review of the situation by Divisional Commissioner Jammu.," read a post from the Divisional Commissioner on social media platform X.

The Divisional Commissioner also wrote: "All Schools, Colleges, and educational institutions (private as well as Government) in the Jammu province, except the Medical colleges, shall remain closed tomorrow, May 13th, in view of the prevailing situation."

Meanwhile, following the reopening of several airports that were closed due to escalating India-Pakistan tensions, Air India on Monday announced that it is working towards commencing flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot.

"Following a notification from aviation authorities on the reopening of airports, Air India is working towards progressively commencing flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot. We appreciate your understanding at this time as our teams work on bringing operations at these airports back to normal. Please stay tuned for further updates," Air India said on X.

Residents of villages near LoC begin returning home

Residents of villages close to the Line of Control (LoC) who were forced to flee due to heavy shelling by the Pakistani military started returning home on Monday.

They started their journey back to their villages after bomb disposal squads cleared the residential areas of any leftover or unexploded shells, officials said.

"We are happy that a ceasefire has been reached between the two countries. We are also hopeful that Pakistan will not resort to such activities again," Arshad Ahmad, a resident of the Kamalkote area in Uri, told PTI.

Some residents praised the Indian Army and other security forces for taking care of them.

"The Indian Army has come out with flying colours. It had to respond and it did that well. They (army personnel) are our heroes, they always help us. Even now, when we are going back to Uri, they checked the place thoroughly (for shells)," said Mehak Khursheed, a resident of Uri near the LoC, told PTI.