Nightly blackouts were extended and curfews imposed Thursday as J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat fortified their Pakistan and PoK frontiers. Chandigarh and Haryana's Panchkula, Ambala and Sirsa districts also ordered residents to switch off lights and stay indoors at night.
Electricity was shut down across Kashmir valley Thursday evening as a precautionary measure, officials said, adding there is no cause for alarm. "Blackout in Srinagar. God knows what awaits us," PDP member Iltija Mufti wrote on X.
Authorities also announced that all schools, colleges and universities across J&K will remain closed Friday and Saturday. CM Omar Abdullah said as Monday is a holiday, govt will review the decision by that afternoon. "The situation at the time will determine if the closure is extended or not and if extended, for how long," he said.
Rajasthan imposed power blackouts for the second consecutive night in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and Jodhpur, adjusting the timing from the previous midnight to 4am schedule to a new window of 9pm-4am. BSF sealed the state's 1,070km border with Pakistan.
In Punjab, DCs of Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Fazilka, Amritsar, Pathankot, and Gurdaspur ordered lights out from Thursday night till further notice.
People moving valuables inland, securing livestock
Huge swathes of Punjab were engulfed in darkness while all educational institutions are closed for the next three days as tensions rose between India and Pakistan on a day of strikes and counter-strikes in prominent cities on both sides.
Blackout in effect in Gurdaspur from 9pm to 5am. Power was snapped in Ferozepur at 2.30am Thursday, sirens wailed at 4am, and supply resumed at 6.30am. At Pathankot, the The blackout began at 8.30pm, coinciding with reports of air raid warnings.
Around 10.30pm Thursday, explosions were reported in Bathinda following sightings of "fireballs" in the sky. Three to four explosions were heard in quick succession. Authorities enforced an immediate blackout and urged residents to remain indoors. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal confirmed one explosion near National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), saying armed forces were investigating.
An attempted drone attack near Uchi Bassi village near Mukerian was neutralised. A projectile was later found in the fields, prompting a blackout order by Hoshiarpur DC. A drone attack was also foiled near Jalandhar's Maqsudan/Suranasi area later. Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal said most drones had been neutralised.
Sounds of blasts in Amritsar Wednesday night led to suspension of suspended all joint ceremonies with Pakistan at Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadiqi indefinitely. "No public will be permitted, keeping in view safety," said a BSF spokesperson.
Residents in border villages are preparing shelters, moving valuables inland, and securing livestock. "People are building safe zones inside homes, drawing from past war experiences," said a local official.
Panic buying surged in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal urged calm and warned against hoarding. Officials inspected outlets and instructed responsible retailing.
In Rajasthan, residents of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and Jodhpur districts have been ordered indoors, and instructed to shut off lights. Sirens will signal blackout start and end. Violations could lead to legal action, officials said. Anti-drone systems are operating 24x7, and combat patrols continue in air. All schools, coaching centres, madrassas, and anganwadi centres in affected districts, including Jodhpur, are closed. Exams in Jai Narayan Vyas University have been postponed indefinitely.
Rajasthan police suspended all leave. Hospitals across Phalodi district and nearby areas are on standby.
Gujarat placed Banaskantha, Patan, and Kutch districts under heightened alert. District in-charge secretaries have been ordered to visit assigned areas and oversee emergency preparedness.
A drone-like object was found Thursday near Khavda in Kutch, prompting investigation by armed forces.
Electricity was shut down across Kashmir valley Thursday evening as a precautionary measure, officials said, adding there is no cause for alarm. "Blackout in Srinagar. God knows what awaits us," PDP member Iltija Mufti wrote on X.
Authorities also announced that all schools, colleges and universities across J&K will remain closed Friday and Saturday. CM Omar Abdullah said as Monday is a holiday, govt will review the decision by that afternoon. "The situation at the time will determine if the closure is extended or not and if extended, for how long," he said.
Rajasthan imposed power blackouts for the second consecutive night in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and Jodhpur, adjusting the timing from the previous midnight to 4am schedule to a new window of 9pm-4am. BSF sealed the state's 1,070km border with Pakistan.
In Punjab, DCs of Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Fazilka, Amritsar, Pathankot, and Gurdaspur ordered lights out from Thursday night till further notice.
People moving valuables inland, securing livestock
Huge swathes of Punjab were engulfed in darkness while all educational institutions are closed for the next three days as tensions rose between India and Pakistan on a day of strikes and counter-strikes in prominent cities on both sides.
Blackout in effect in Gurdaspur from 9pm to 5am. Power was snapped in Ferozepur at 2.30am Thursday, sirens wailed at 4am, and supply resumed at 6.30am. At Pathankot, the The blackout began at 8.30pm, coinciding with reports of air raid warnings.
Around 10.30pm Thursday, explosions were reported in Bathinda following sightings of "fireballs" in the sky. Three to four explosions were heard in quick succession. Authorities enforced an immediate blackout and urged residents to remain indoors. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal confirmed one explosion near National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), saying armed forces were investigating.
An attempted drone attack near Uchi Bassi village near Mukerian was neutralised. A projectile was later found in the fields, prompting a blackout order by Hoshiarpur DC. A drone attack was also foiled near Jalandhar's Maqsudan/Suranasi area later. Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal said most drones had been neutralised.
Sounds of blasts in Amritsar Wednesday night led to suspension of suspended all joint ceremonies with Pakistan at Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadiqi indefinitely. "No public will be permitted, keeping in view safety," said a BSF spokesperson.
Residents in border villages are preparing shelters, moving valuables inland, and securing livestock. "People are building safe zones inside homes, drawing from past war experiences," said a local official.
Panic buying surged in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal urged calm and warned against hoarding. Officials inspected outlets and instructed responsible retailing.
In Rajasthan, residents of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and Jodhpur districts have been ordered indoors, and instructed to shut off lights. Sirens will signal blackout start and end. Violations could lead to legal action, officials said. Anti-drone systems are operating 24x7, and combat patrols continue in air. All schools, coaching centres, madrassas, and anganwadi centres in affected districts, including Jodhpur, are closed. Exams in Jai Narayan Vyas University have been postponed indefinitely.
Rajasthan police suspended all leave. Hospitals across Phalodi district and nearby areas are on standby.
Gujarat placed Banaskantha, Patan, and Kutch districts under heightened alert. District in-charge secretaries have been ordered to visit assigned areas and oversee emergency preparedness.
A drone-like object was found Thursday near Khavda in Kutch, prompting investigation by armed forces.
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