Pakistan has drawn sharp criticism from Indian officials for the disinformation it is spreading.
Punjab’s key districts of Bathinda, Amritsar, and Jalandhar, Khanna were placed under a red alert on Saturday as Pakistan escalated its attacks, targeting civilian areas with drones and munitions amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. The relentless aggression, which intensified since Friday night, has prompted authorities to urge residents to stay indoors and adhere to strict safety measures.
The Indian Army reported that multiple Pakistani drones were spotted over Amritsar’s Khasa Cantt at around 5 a.m., all of which were “instantly engaged and destroyed” by air defense units. Similar sightings in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur triggered explosion-like sounds, with debris from a downed drone found in Jalandhar’s Kanganiwal village. In Bathinda, a Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attempted to target a military station but was neutralized, though the use of civilian airlines as shields by Pakistan has drawn sharp criticism from Indian officials.
“Pakistan has once again proven that it’s a terrorist state, firing drones into civilian areas,” said Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on X, referencing injuries caused by a drone strike in Ferozepur. The District Public Relations Officer in Bathinda issued an advisory stating, “All residents are requested to stay inside their residences and take self-protection measures. Electricity won’t be cut off, but all other measures remain in force.”
Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, has been particularly hard-hit, with sirens blaring and tourists fleeing the city. “This is a war-like situation, but we have made all arrangements,” said Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, emphasizing government preparedness. Jalandhar’s administration enforced a blackout and turned off highway and street lights as a precaution, though lights in the cantonment area were later restored.
The attacks are part of Pakistan’s response to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Pakistan’s military has targeted 36 Indian locations with drones, prompting India to strike four Pakistani air defense sites and destroy terrorist launch pads. The closure of schools in six Punjab border districts, including Amritsar and Ferozepur, and 32 airports, including Bathinda and Amritsar, reflects the gravity of the situation.
Residents are rattled, with reports of damaged homes and widespread anxiety. “We have full faith in our army, but the sounds of shelling are terrifying,” a Jalandhar resident told ANI. The Punjab government is fast-tracking an anti-drone system, while the Indian Army remains on high alert, neutralizing over 50 drones in recent operations.
As diplomatic efforts for de-escalation falter, Punjab’s border communities face an uncertain future, with authorities urging calm and vigilance.
