A year after Operation Sindoor which resulted in casualties in Poonch due to Pakistani shelling, locals have been building private bunkers at their homes to prepare for any future escalation.The shelling had triggered panic across Poonch, forcing thousands to flee their homes, which were damaged in the cross-border action. Now, several residents say they no longer want to depend solely on government arrangements for their safety.Randhir Singh (58), a chemist from Kama Khan in Poonch, is constructing a bunker at his house. “My house had become old and needed repair. But this time, I decided to add an underground bunker so that my family could stay safe if such a situation arises again,” Singh said.The bunker, measuring around 30×30 feet, is designed to accommodate at least four persons. Randhir said he started the construction last month. “I do not expect much from the government, which has its own responsibilities on other fronts,” he said. A local gurdwara is also assisting him in the construction work.Anmol Singh, a priest at the gurdwara, said residents had demanded community bunkers after last year’s shelling in which many civilians were killed and over 60 others were injured.“Many people had to move to Jammu because there were no proper bunkers available for civilians. That is why residents now prefer building bunkers at their own homes,” he said. Several other families in Poonch are also constructing private bunkers, believing that existing safety infrastructure remains inadequate.A government employee, requesting anonymity, said he too was building a bunker at his home after last year’s experience. “We were forced to flee Poonch as soon as the shelling started. This bunker will at least provide some safety to my family during emergencies,” he said.The government had constructed two bunkers in Poonch — one at the Deputy Commissioner’s office and another at the Dak Bungalow frequently visited by VIPs.However, residents alleged that the bunker at the Dak Bungalow remains incomplete after sewage water from an adjoining area reportedly seeped into it. The structure is currently filled with water, while construction work has remained abandoned midway.