NEW DELHI: The Gurdaspur district administration in Punjab has announced a total blackout starting 9 PM tonight, continuing until further notice, in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
The decision follows India’s strong retaliatory strikes against Pakistan after a series of missile attacks on Indian border states. According to ANI, Pakistan’s Air Defence Units, including HQ-9 missile systems stationed in Lahore, have sustained significant damage.
This escalation comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a pre-dawn airstrike operation conducted by India that destroyed nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan’s military spokesperson confirmed 24 strikes in six locations using multiple types of weaponry.
Punjab | Gurdaspur District Administration orders complete blackout in the district from 9:00 pm on 8th May to 5:00 am on May 9
Earlier, Indian forces shot dead a Pakistani intruder in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector during the intervening night of May 7 and 8. This attempted breach occurred shortly after the Operation Sindoor airstrikes, which were carried out in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians two weeks ago.
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Key targets of the operation included known strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke.
In view of the situation, Indian border states — Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat — have been placed on high alert. Preventive measures include cancellation of public gatherings, closure of schools and colleges, and enhanced security patrols in sensitive areas.
Punjab, which shares a 532-km border with Pakistan, was among the first to implement strict security protocols. State minister Aman Arora confirmed that all border districts are on alert, with police and army coordination underway. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also suspended his anti-drug campaign events in SBS Nagar and Jalandhar.
The Punjab Police has been activated as a secondary line of defence, with ongoing coordination with the Indian Army to ensure readiness for any contingency.
