Death toll in valley touches 13

The death toll in the border climbed to 13 after another injured army soldier succumbed, even as Pakistan army fired mortar shells on a government school along the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu division on Wednesday.

Naik Jagdish had sustained grievous splinter injuries wounds in Pakistan shelling along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector on January 20. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital where he succumbed on Wednesday.

"Despite all efforts the gallant soldier succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday", said Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Northern Command Headquarters.

Hailing from Gandashu of Chamoli in Uttarakhand, the 34 year old is survived by wife Usha Devi and two children. "Naik Jagdish was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty", said Colonel Joshi.

The death toll has now climbed to 13 in the Pakistani shelling on Line of Control (LoC) and International border (IB) since January 17. More than 50 people have suffered injuries and 50,000 people have fled their homes in Jammu division. Schools and educational institutions in the five-kilometer range of International Border and LoC have been shut as a precautionary measure.

Even though the international border (IB) witnessed relative calm, two mortar shells fired by Pakistan army landed in the premises of government school near LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. There was no loss of life or property as schools are shut in the five kilometer range of the LoC.

"Two mortar shells exploded on the premises of Government High School Sair near LoC in Nowshera. No damage to building. Schools are closed", tweeted Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, district development commissioner, Rajouri.

Additional District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Arun Manhas said there is relative calm on the International Border since Monday afternoon. "Nobody has gone back home because there is still unpredictability", he said

More than 2,345 people had reported to eight shelter camps set up by the government in Jammu on Monday night. "Around 248 schools and educational establishments in five kilometer range are closed till January 26," he said.