A temporary blackout was imposed in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on Saturday following reports of drone sightings, District Collector Ghanshyam Thori confirmed. “Forces are currently conducting checks. Citizens are urged to remain calm and adhere strictly to blackout protocols,” he said in a public advisory.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, with Indian defence sources confirming continued sightings of suspected armed drones across 26 locations from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south. These locations span both the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC), with drones posing potential threats to both civilian and military targets.
Among the areas affected are Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala.
In a particularly alarming incident, a drone strike in Punjab’s Ferozpur district injured multiple members of a local family. The injured were provided immediate medical attention, and the area has since been sanitised by security forces.
The Indian Army has mounted strong retaliatory action in the Jammu sector, targeting Pakistani positions following drone attacks that sought to target Indian cities. Explosions and red tracer fire were reported in the Samba region as Indian air defence systems engaged incoming drones during a blackout.
In response to the growing aerial threat, blackouts have also been enforced in sensitive areas including the Akhnoor and Udhampur regions of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as villages in Gujarat’s Patan district near the border. In a statement on social media platform X, the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office urged residents to “stay away from rumours and follow all administrative instructions.”
The Indian Armed Forces remain on high alert, actively deploying counter-drone systems and surveillance to track and neutralize aerial threats. The Ministry of Defence stated that the situation is under close and constant observation, with swift and proportionate responses underway.
This escalation follows India’s targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in retaliation to a terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this week. Indian officials have urged citizens, particularly those in border districts, to avoid unnecessary movement, stay indoors, and remain vigilant.