Amidst the escalation of cross-border hostilities and with multiple towns in Punjab reportedly on the radar of potential security threats, the State Government has swung into full emergency mode, implementing a slew of stringent measures to protect its civilian population and maintain the resilience of critical infrastructure. From cancelling all official leaves of civil, police, and health officials to ordering blackout drills and shutting down schools in key towns, the government is leaving nothing to chance amid heightened national alerts.

 District administrations, especially in border districts, have been directed to enforce precautionary blackouts between 8 pm and 12 midnight, particularly in border areas and urban clusters identified as sensitive. These include major cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, and Bathinda, among others, where police and civil defense teams have stepped up surveillance and public advisories are being issued. Gurdaspur Administration has ordered a complete blackout from 9 pm and 5 am.

 All schools in Border districts were ordered shut on short notice, with school managements told to reschedule classes and ensure children remain indoors. Government offices, especially in vulnerable districts, have been directed to run with minimal staff presence and heightened internal security. Punjab Police, meanwhile, has activated special task units and anti-sabotage teams to carry out vulnerability assessments of public infrastructure, including power grids, transport hubs, fuel storage units, and water reservoirs.

This immediate and all-encompassing security response across the region was triggered after Pakistan reportedly launched a coordinated missile attack on eight strategic Indian military installations in Punjab and Chandigarh late Wednesday night. The targeted locations included Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Adampur, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Chandigarh — housing five major Air Force bases and six Army cantonments. While the Indian Air Defence system successfully neutralized the incoming threats mid-air, the incident has thrust Punjab into a state of high alert.

 In response, the Gurdaspur district administration has imposed a strict blackout from 9 pm to 5 am beginning Thursday night, with Deputy Commissioner ordering its enforcement until further notice. Meanwhile, blackouts are on standby in other districts and will be triggered based on real-time alerts from the Indian Army and Air Force.

 Simultaneously, all police and health personnel leaves have been cancelled across Punjab, with officials directed to remain on-duty 24x7 in anticipation of further escalation. The Punjab Government has also ordered the immediate closure of schools in six border districts — Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Ferozepur — for public safety.

 Amid growing panic among civilians, district administrations in Amritsar and Jalandhar have launched an aggressive crackdown on hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. Emergency helplines have been activated, task forces mobilized, and violators warned of strict legal action.

 Defence Ministry sources confirmed that the hostile incursion was a retaliatory move following India’s covert Operation Sindoor. Pakistani missiles and rockets were detected targeting major military zones, but all were intercepted before they could inflict damage. However, fragments of missiles and unexploded ordnance were discovered in several villages near Amritsar, including Dudhalla, Jethuwal, Pandher, and Makhanwindi, causing widespread fear and emergency responses. An active missile was defused with assistance from the Indian Army’s technical squad.

 In Hoshiarpur district’s Ghagwal village, parts of a missile were recovered, indicating how deep the attempted breach was — nearly 30 km inside Indian territory. Defence and intelligence agencies are on high alert amid reports of increased aerial activity by Pakistani F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets near the border, particularly in Lahore’s airspace.

 Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner’s all-night blackout order exempted cantonment areas but mandated complete lights-out for all civilian zones. Deputy Commissioners across districts including Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Patiala, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Fazilka, and Ferozepur have indicated that blackout drills will be executed instantly on receiving red alerts from defence forces.

 Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal termed the blackout protocol a “necessary simulation to prepare civilians for real-time emergency responses.” In Jalandhar, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal reaffirmed the commitment to act on every threat alert and urged people to remain calm and cooperative.

 As part of a broader clampdown to prevent public panic, the use of fireworks during weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies has been banned in Amritsar and several other districts. The order, enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, is aimed at avoiding confusion or mistaken alarms during these tense times.

 Similarly, the Jalandhar Administration has imposed night-time restrictions on sound pollution, banning loudspeakers, vehicle horns, and musical instruments in marriage palaces and hotels after 10 pm. These measures are expected to remain in effect until the situation normalizes.

 Crackdown on Hoarding and Black Marketing
In Amritsar, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Sakshi Sahni has taken proactive steps to prevent profiteering amidst rising anxiety. A special task force, led by the District Food Supply Controller and the District Mandi Officer, has been constituted to inspect, identify, and act against black marketers, hoarders, and those creating artificial shortages. The task force is empowered under the Essential Commodities Act and BNSS provisions to initiate stringent legal action.

Helpline numbers have been publicized for public reporting of unethical trade practices. Sahni emphasized that there is no shortage of food, fuel, or essentials, and urged citizens to refrain from panic buying. “The administration is fully prepared to maintain stable supplies, especially for vulnerable sections,” she said.

 Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal issued a similar warning, stating that hoarding will not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Our teams are on alert. Anyone found engaging in black marketing or creating panic will face the full force of the law,” he declared.

With security concerns mounting, the Punjab Government has closed schools in six key border districts. In Amritsar, schools will remain shut from May 9 to 11; while all educational institutions will remain closed on May 9 and 10 in Pathankot. In Ludhiana, schools closure has been orders from May 9 and 10 following reported missile threats. In Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Fazilka, all schools have been closed until further government orders.
In Tarn Taran, the district administration emphasized that the decision was made in the best interest of children’s safety. “Given the uncertain situation, proactive closure is the most responsible course of action,” the order read.

 With over 532 kilometers of Punjab’s border adjoining Pakistan, law enforcement has been tasked with round-the-clock vigilance. Punjab Police sources confirmed that all leaves for personnel have been revoked with immediate effect, and special units have been deployed for crowd control, intelligence monitoring, and civil assistance.

 The police are also coordinating with BSF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to prepare for possible contingencies, including civilian evacuations in case of fresh attacks.

Authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with security protocols, avoid spreading rumours, and maintain civic discipline. From air-raid siren drills to mock blackouts, Punjab is now witnessing security preparedness of a scale unseen in recent decades.

Punjab Government has established a control room in view of the current situation in the country. According to the information given by the official spokesperson, for the convenience of people, the Finance Commissioner Revenue Disaster Management Control Room has unveiled the landline phone numbers 0172-2741803 and 0172-2749901. In case of any emergency, the above numbers can be contacted.

***Missile Attack: Averted, but Alarm Bells Ring

*** Emergency Measures Sweep Punjab

*** Ban on Fireworks and Nighttime Sound Restrictions

***Crackdown on Hoarding and Black Marketing

***Schools Shut Down in Six Districts

*** Police Mobilized, Border Vigil Heightened

*** Punjab Govt establishes Control room