Amid the rapidly escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan, the Punjab Government has sounded a high alert in all six border districts — Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran — following multiple cross-border drone intrusions, explosions, and security breaches over the past 48 hours.
The situation turned tense late Thursday evening when multiple series of explosions were reported near Ferozepur and Pathankot, and also in Fazilka. Residents witnessed flashes of light in the sky followed by loud blasts. Blackout orders were immediately enforced in Ferozepur, Amritsar, and Pathankot. Sirens were sounded across towns, directing people to switch off lights and remain indoors.
Eye-witnesses in Ferozepur reported repeated blasts around 8:15 pm, suspected to be from intercepted Pakistani drones, which were later confirmed to have been shot down by the Indian Army. Similar attacks were reported in Pathankot, where the S-400 air defense system neutralized enemy drones.
Early Friday morning, two drones were downed near Khasa in Amritsar. Pathankot had also witnessed explosions around 4:30 am, and a search operation led to the discovery of a bomb near the airbase and a drone near Karoli village.
Meanwhile, in Bathinda — home to Asia’s largest military cantonment — Pakistan attempted a drone strike on the Army cantonment area during the night of May 8-9. Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed during a Ministry of External Affairs briefing that the UAV was intercepted before causing any damage.
The fallout has been severe. Rocket debris was recovered in Bathinda’s Tungwali village and Hoshiarpur’s Kamahi Devi area. Explosions were heard in Uchi Bassi — home to an Army camp — as well. In Faridkot, internet services were suspended for 13 hours to curb misinformation, and restored later.
In view of persistent threats, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the deployment of nine anti-drone systems across the border zones. The state has also cancelled all IAS officers’ leaves and barred them from leaving headquarters.
Other precautionary civic restrictions are now in place. Mohali have imposed early market closures and banned fireworks and laser beams, while the state government has postponed all National Lok Adalats scheduled for May 10 across Punjab.
Public transport has also been curtailed with Himachal Road Transport Corporation suspending services to Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, and Jalandhar. Similarly, Punjab Roadways has halted all bus services from Hoshiarpur to Jammu.
As Punjab remains on edge, the state machinery is also on full alert, preparing for contingencies and reinforcing its frontline against further aggression.
Mohali Boosts Air Raid Alert System Amid Rising Threats
In response to public concerns and several complaints over inaudible air raid sirens amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions, the Mohali Administration has initiated a major upgrade of its early warning system.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal told The Pioneer that orders have been placed for five long-range sirens with a 15 km coverage range. “These will be functional by Saturday evening,” she said, adding that 34 additional sirens with a two-km range were installed on Friday across key subdivisions.
Of these, 30 have been allotted to Kharar and 20 to Zirakpur and Dera Bassi, where residents had earlier complained of silent or ineffective alerts. Currently, only 10 limited-range sirens are operational in Zirakpur and Dera Bassi, prompting urgent intervention.
New installations are being placed at municipal offices, BDPOs, gurdwaras, and key government buildings. Officials are preparing shift rosters to ensure 24/7 monitoring and manual operation where needed.
“High population density has made older sirens ineffective,” said an official, admitting that there is still no integrated mechanism and current systems are standalone and not synchronized across subdivisions.
Medical, Paramedical Institutions to Remain Functional
Even as Punjab enforces a three-day closure of all educational institutions due to escalating border tensions, state’s medical, paramedical, and allied health institutions have been exempted to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services and training. Approximately 10,000 students under the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) will continue both academic sessions and clinical duties. The decision, officials said, reflected the critical need for trained manpower during emergencies.
“In crisis — whether pandemics or potential wartime situations — the pressure on hospitals multiplies. Medical and paramedical students play a vital support role,” said BFUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr Rajeev Sood, adding, “They assist in surgeries, manage patient care, and keep essential services running.”
Drawing parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Sood highlighted how student involvement had helped bolster healthcare delivery when the system was overwhelmed. “This is a similar moment. The presence of medical trainees in hospitals is non-negotiable.”
