Splinters from the shelling also damaged offices in the adjoining Brigade Headquarters. This is the first time that the Pakistan artillery has succeeded in targeting the bridge though regular attempts had been made earlier. The offices of the Field Post Office (FPO) and the Brigade PCO were also hit by splinters, some weighing over five kilograms, according to eyewitnesses.

Friday night's shelling of civilian areas has also caused damage to several houses in Minji village and the splinters partially destroyed the newly shifted police colony.

The artillery attack on Kargil and Drass has been intensified since late Friday night. The Drass police stationwas repeatedly hit by shells, close to midnight. Shelling continued till early Saturday morning.

The shells hit the State Government employees quarters in Baru Hills. The residents, however, had already abandoned the colony and moved to relatively safer places around Minji and Trespund.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has also been forced to look for "safe" land in the Suru Valley. The BSF camp in Chinnigund is directly in line of enemy fire. BSF officers, including DIG D N Kabu and IG, Kashmir, K Vijay Kumar, visited the area along with a team of senior BSF officers from Delhi.

The Army has also asked the soldiers working in the FPO and PCO to take shelter elsewhere during the time when shelling is on. On Saturday, the soldiers started digging safety pits, leading to a concrete drain in the event of shelling.

With most officials of the administration having abandoned Kargil and other shelled areas, the jawans were also trying to repair the badly damaged water supply line.

Meanwhile, Pakistan'sintensified artillery attack did not deter the population of this Shia-dominated town from taking out a procession on the 40th day of Muharram though few people participated since most have fled.The main Chahlum jaloos was taken out in Minji and Trespund where over 10,000 people - mostly refugees from Kaksar and Kargil - are reported to have participated. Anti-Pakistan sentiments were expressed for forcing their migration, destruction of property, crops and livestock in the shelling.