Blackout in Punjab and Chandigarh Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
Residents across Punjab’s border areas, including Amritsar, Pathankot, and Ferozepur, experienced a tense night on Thursday as a widespread power blackout was enforced by the authorities in response to heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The blackout extended beyond the border regions, affecting districts like Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur. Even the Union Territory of Chandigarh—joint capital of Punjab and Haryana—faced a power outage for nearly two hours until midnight. Mohali, a key city adjoining Chandigarh, was also without electricity for over two hours.
The power cuts were implemented as a precaution after the Indian armed forces successfully intercepted fresh Pakistani attempts to strike military installations using drones and missiles. These attacks targeted cities such as Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. According to the Defence Ministry, earlier attempts had already been foiled in 15 cities across northern and western India.
The cities reportedly targeted by Pakistan on Thursday night included: Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.
These developments followed India's precision missile strikes on Wednesday, carried out under ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The Indian military targeted nine terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
In Pathankot, some locals reported hearing explosion-like sounds, though there was no official confirmation. Air raid sirens were activated around 8:30 p.m., and authorities enforced a strict blackout. Despite the anxiety, calm returned by Friday morning.
Similar scenes played out in Amritsar and Ferozepur, where residents expressed confidence in the Indian armed forces' swift and effective response. In Chandigarh, despite Thursday night's anxiety, many residents resumed their routines on Friday morning. “There were some anxious moments, but the armed forces’ quick action reassured us,” said Baldev Chand, a senior citizen out on his morning walk.
Authorities in several districts had urged people to remain indoors and switch off all lights as a safety measure. Deputy Commissioner of Pathankot, Aditya Uppal, appealed to citizens to strictly follow blackout protocols and stay calm.
The blackout was also observed in other Punjab districts including Rupnagar, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Bathinda, Patiala, and Panchkula in Haryana.
In view of the escalating tension, the Punjab government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions for the next three days. Schools in Chandigarh have also been shut till Saturday.
(With PTI inputs)
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