Punjab witnessed heightened security, shuttered borders, and escalating public anxiety on Wednesday in the aftermath of “Operation Sindoor” — the Indian Armed Forces’ swift and targeted air strikes on terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — carried out in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
With Punjab sharing a 553-kilometre-long volatile international border with Pakistan, the response across the border state was swift and sweeping — from cancelling iconic military ceremonies to putting health services on high alert, and from closing educational institutions in five districts to shutting international airports in Amritsar and Chandigarh.
In an immediate security response, the Border Security Force (BSF) called off the famed Beating Retreat ceremonies at three key international check posts — Attari-Wagah in Amritsar, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur, and Sadki in Fazilka — until further notice. BSF personnel barricaded approach roads and posted notices announcing the suspension. Vehicles of tourists and visitors, who had come to witness the ceremony, were turned back.
“The decision was taken as a precautionary measure following the air strikes,” said a BSF spokesperson. “The flag-lowering will continue, but without public participation.” The BSF had earlier scaled down ceremonial gestures like the symbolic handshake post the Pahalgam attack, reflecting a shift in protocol amidst rising tensions.
Notably, such ceremonies had previously been suspended after the 2014 Wagah suicide bombing and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
In another significant move, the Union Home Ministry’s Bureau of Immigration ordered the closure of the Sri Kartarpur Corridor in Gurdaspur “till further orders”. On Wednesday morning, 150 pilgrims who had gathered at the Dera Baba Nanak Integrated Check Post were asked to return home after waiting nearly 90 minutes. The corridor, opened in November 2019 to allow visa-free pilgrimage to Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, has been one of the key symbols of India-Pakistan people-to-people contact.
The suspension followed a sharp drop in pilgrim footfall since the Pahalgam attack. From 408 pilgrims on April 23, numbers dwindled to 133 by April 28 — a decline of nearly 60 percent in just six days.
The five border districts — Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Ferozepur — saw schools and colleges shut down under orders from respective Deputy Commissioners. Gurdaspur has declared a three-day school closure. Amritsar DC ordered all schools to remain shut on Wednesday, while Fazilka issued one-day closure notices. All government functions across these districts were cancelled.
The reverberations were also felt in air travel. Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport suspended all 22 scheduled flights and will remain closed until 5:30 pm on May 10. Chandigarh International Airport also shut operations “till further orders”, stranding passengers and disrupting travel plans across North India.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal also cancelled scheduled events in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar, underscoring the gravity of the security situation.
As news of the air strikes spread, public panic set in. In cities like Amritsar and Jalandhar, residents rushed to grocery stores, leading to shortages of essential items like flour (atta), pulses, and bottled water. At several locations including D-Mart outlets, shelves were wiped clean and shutters were pulled down amid swelling crowds.
Meanwhile, families in border villages began moving to safer zones. Residents of villages near Hussainiwala and Attari packed up belongings and sought shelter away from the zero line. “We are not taking any chances,” said Harbhajan Singh, a resident of Fazilka’s border belt, adding, “The situation can escalate quickly, and we want to be safe.”
The Punjab Health Department sprang into emergency preparedness. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh ordered all doctors and paramedical staff to keep their mobile phones switched on round the clock and report for duty when called. He conducted a surprise inspection of Khanna Civil Hospital on Wednesday and found the medical staff present and alert.
“All civil hospitals are fully equipped and staffed. We are ready for any emergency,” said Dr Balbir, adding, “We appeal to the public not to panic or believe in rumours. Medical services will remain operational throughout.”
Tensions heightened further late Tuesday night when a powerful explosion was reported in Pandher village of Gurdaspur. Villagers discovered a suspicious bomb-like object near the blast site. Local police, led by ACP Aditya, secured the area and took the object into custody. “Preliminary investigation is underway. We urge citizens to remain calm and report any suspicious objects to the police,” he said.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora emphasized unity and calm in this time of tension. “All government programs stand cancelled for now. The entire Punjab is standing firmly with our Armed Forces. We urge people to remain vigilant and follow official advisories,” he said.
