SIALKOT, Jan 10: Two villagers died in Indian mortar shelling in Shakargarh sector of the working boundary on Thursday evening.

Confirming the casualties, officials sources said the deceased were members of a family moving to safer places in wake of military build-up along the border.

The names of the dead could not be known.

In the morning shelling, nine head of cattle perished and more than 30 houses were badly damaged in Zafarwal and Shakargarh sectors.

According to the official sources, the Indians fired more than 25 heavy mortar shells besides using heavy artillery weapons on Pakistani border villages.

Most of the mortar shells fell into the fields. These villages have already been vacated by villagers due to the mounting tension.

The official sources claimed that three Indian soldiers were killed by the Chenab Rangers during retaliatory fire on Thathi Kalan post.