The 19 Bahadur: CISF Team Foils Pakistan’s Strike on Uri Hydel Plant, Saves 250 Lives

It has been over six months since the India-Pakistan confrontation reshaped security dynamics along the Line of Control (LoC). A remarkable story of courage from Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector has come to light. A 19-member Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) unit guarded the Uri hydroelectric power projects. They thwarted a Pakistani attempt to hit critical infrastructure. They rescued around 250 civilians under heavy fire.

The incident, which unfolded on May 7, the night India launched Operation Sindoor, has now been officially recognised. All 19 CISF personnel have been honoured with the Director General’s Disc. They protected the Uri Hydro Electric Power Projects (UHEP-I and II). They also prevented a potential mass casualty event.

Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s Retaliation

In the early hours of May 7, India responded to the Pahalgam attack. They launched Operation Sindoor, striking and reportedly demolishing nine terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory. In the aftermath of these strikes, security forces took position along the LoC. This included those at the Uri hydro projects. They were placed on the highest level of alert. Lights at the plant were switched off and defensive protocols activated.

Within hours, Pakistan answered with intense, indiscriminate shelling across the LoC and a wave of drone activity. Among the key targets was the Uri hydroelectric complex on the Jhelum in Baramulla district — a vital power asset situated virtually on the LoC and surrounded by civilian habitations.

Also read: India’s Hanuman Doctrine: Operation Sindoor Sends a Message of Justice, Not War

How CISF Neutralised Drones, Shielded Uri Plant

Despite the sustained barrage, the CISF contingent, led by Commandant Ravi Yadav, held its ground. The team not only secured the plant but also prevented enemy drones from inflicting damage.

According to officials, CISF personnel used jamming equipment and small arms fire to bring down hostile drones near the main entrance of the Uri-II project. Larger unmanned aerial vehicles were tackled by other security agencies operating in the area. As a result, no drone managed to hit the power infrastructure.

ASI Gurjeet Singh, one of the decorated personnel, recalled that CISF teams reacted in real time to the evolving threat. They quickly assessed the pattern of fire and reinforced bunkers. They maintained uninterrupted communication with other agencies and plant authorities. This coordination was essential for the response.

A CISF statement later noted that the unit carried out “real-time threat analysis.” It also strengthened defensive positions and maintained critical communications. Additionally, the unit successfully neutralised hostile drones during the operation.

Midnight Evacuation: 250 Civilians Moved to Safety

The mission shifted as Pakistani shells landed dangerously close to residential blocks. They also landed near staff quarters near the project. The mission moved from being purely defensive to humanitarian. CISF personnel fanned out in the dark, going door-to-door to move people to safety.

Families of workers and residents of nearby housing were hurriedly woken up. They were briefed about the situation. Then, they were escorted to secure locations and bunkers. Around 250 civilians, including employees of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and their families, were safely evacuated.

Officers involved in the operation said one of the biggest challenges was simply waking people up and making them understand the urgency amid the chaos of incoming fire. Despite the intensity of shelling and the obvious danger to their own lives, the CISF team did not report a single casualty — civilian or security personnel.

The CISF later said, “Amid intense cross-border shelling, CISF teams at Uri Hydro Electric Projects displayed extraordinary courage. They safeguarded vital national assets. The teams evacuated 250 civilians to safety despite the high risk to their own lives.”

Uri’s Bloody Past: Echoes Of The 2016 Terror Attack

The attempted strike on the Uri hydel complex revived grim memories of the 2016 Uri terror attack. On September 18, 2016, four Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists infiltrated the Army’s brigade headquarters in Uri, killing 19 soldiers and injuring over 30 in one of the deadliest attacks on the Indian Army in recent years.

A fierce six-hour firefight ended with all four terrorists neutralised. Nine days later, India conducted surgical strikes across the LoC, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where over 100 terrorists were believed to have been eliminated.

The latest episode at Uri, however, tells a different story. It is one of a looming disaster averted quietly and efficiently by a relatively small CISF unit. This unit was tasked with guarding a power plant. The recognition of these 19 “Bahadur” personnel highlights their critical role. Paramilitary forces are vital in frontline security and in protecting strategic infrastructure in conflict zones.

The tensions along the LoC remain high. The threat from cross-border terrorism and evolving drone attacks persists. The Uri operation serves as a template for coordinated response and technological preparedness. It also highlights human courage under fire.

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