On a crisp Saturday morning, the tranquil waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, usually abuzz with tourists and shikaras, became the site of a startling discovery. Officials from the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), carrying out a routine cleaning drive as part of the nationwide ‘Sewa Parv’ campaign, stumbled upon the remains of a shell—an explosive relic from the recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan known as Operation Sindoor.
According to reports from PTI and News9, the shell’s remnants were found on September 20, 2025, embedded in the lakebed. The find was quickly reported to authorities, and the debris was transported to the nearest police station for further examination and necessary action. The LCMA officials confirmed, “The remains of a shell have been found in the Dal Lake during a cleaning drive in the water body.” The statement, simple but weighty, underscores the lingering impact of military operations on civilian landscapes.
To understand the significance of this discovery, one must revisit the events of May 2025. On the morning of May 10, Srinagar was rocked by a series of loud explosions. Eyewitnesses described how a missile-like object streaked across the sky, landing deep inside Dal Lake—a major tourist attraction in the region. Smoke billowed from the surface of the water, sending ripples of anxiety through the city. Security forces quickly responded, fishing out debris from the lake and launching an investigation. On that same day, another suspicious object was recovered from Lasjan, a suburb on the outskirts of Srinagar. The city, accustomed to occasional unrest, found itself once again at the center of a geopolitical storm.
The blasts were not random acts of violence. They were part of a broader military campaign—Operation Sindoor. Launched by India on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was a direct response to the devastating attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. The Indian government, reeling from the loss and under immense public pressure, authorized a series of precision strikes against terror infrastructures across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
According to News9, Indian forces targeted and destroyed nine terrorist installations belonging to notorious outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. The strikes, carried out with surgical precision, were intended to send a clear message: India would not tolerate attacks on its soil and was willing to act decisively in the face of provocation.
The aftermath of Operation Sindoor has been felt on both sides of the border. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking on September 20, 2025, praised the Indian military’s efforts. He stated, “The military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May demonstrated the country’s strength to its enemies and served as proof that it created its own destiny through its firm resolve.” His remarks, reported by PTI, reflect a government eager to project strength and resilience in the face of persistent threats.
But the consequences of the operation have not been limited to rhetoric. Intelligence sources, cited by PTI, suggest that terrorist groups in Pakistan are now shifting their bases from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The precision of the Indian strikes has reportedly made their former strongholds untenable, forcing militants to seek new refuge further west. This strategic displacement, while seen as a victory by some, raises new questions about the evolving security landscape in the region.
The discovery of the shell in Dal Lake serves as a tangible reminder of these tensions. Dal Lake, with its iconic houseboats and floating gardens, has long been a symbol of Kashmir’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Yet, as this incident reveals, it is also a stage upon which the dramas of conflict and peace are played out. The presence of unexploded ordnance in such a public and beloved space is a sobering testament to the far-reaching effects of military action.
The cleaning drive that led to the shell’s discovery was not an isolated event. Organized as part of the nationwide ‘Sewa Parv’ campaign, the initiative aimed to restore and preserve India’s natural resources. In Srinagar, this meant mobilizing local authorities, volunteers, and security personnel to comb through the lake’s waters and shores, picking up debris both mundane and, as it turned out, extraordinary. The LCMA’s role in safeguarding the lake’s ecosystem took on new urgency as officials realized the potential dangers lurking beneath the surface.
For residents of Srinagar, the incident has rekindled memories of past conflicts. The city has endured decades of unrest, with episodes of violence often spilling into the everyday lives of its people. The May 10 explosions, followed by the discovery of the shell months later, highlight the unpredictable and enduring nature of such confrontations. As one local official put it, “Smoke billowed from the surface when the object landed.” Those words, reported by PTI, capture both the immediate fear and the lingering uncertainty that follows in the wake of violence.
The broader implications of Operation Sindoor and its aftermath are still unfolding. While the Indian government has touted the operation as a success, pointing to the destruction of terrorist infrastructure and the displacement of militant groups, critics caution against complacency. The shifting of terrorist bases to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for instance, may simply relocate the threat rather than eliminate it. Moreover, the potential for unexploded ordnance to surface in civilian areas remains a pressing concern.
As authorities continue to examine the shell and assess the safety of Dal Lake, questions persist about the long-term impact of military operations on the region’s environment and public safety. The incident underscores the need for vigilance—not just in matters of national security, but also in the stewardship of natural and cultural treasures like Dal Lake.
For now, the shell found at the bottom of Dal Lake stands as a silent witness to a turbulent chapter in Kashmir’s history. Its recovery during a routine act of civic duty serves as a poignant reminder that the echoes of conflict can linger long after the last shot is fired, shaping the lives and landscapes of those who call this region home.