Drone sightings trigger blackout alerts across Punjab border districts
Schools shut in Ferozepur, Fazilka, Pathankot as precaution
3 min read
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed the drone sightings and said there were no reports of any blasts (Express)Sirens blared in Amritsar on Sunday night, followed by a sudden blackout, as drone sightings triggered security alerts across several Punjab districts. Similar alerts and power outages were observed in parts of Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar amid heightened vigilance by security forces.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed the drone sightings and said there were no reports of any blasts. The district administration stated that the blackout in Amritsar was implemented on an Army alert.
In Jalandhar, a surveillance drone was brought down by the Armed forces around 9.20 pm near village Mand, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal confirmed in a late-night statement. “The expert team is looking for the debris. It is requested that people do not go near it if found and immediately inform the nearest police station,” his message read. He added that no drone activity had been observed in Jalandhar since 10 pm.
Aggarwal also cautioned residents against bursting crackers, which had been reported in some areas, saying, “Strict police action will be taken against such people who try to create panic.” He reiterated that the lights in some areas of Jalandhar were switched off as a precaution and that the situation would be reviewed.
In Hoshiarpur, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain issued a video message confirming a complete power shutdown in the Mukerian and Dasuya subdivisions. “These precautions are being taken on the advice of the Indian Army,” she said, urging people across the district to voluntarily observe the blackout.
Meanwhile, schools in border districts Ferozepur and Fazilka will remain closed for the next 48 hours as per revised advisories issued by the respective district administrations at 6.45 pm. In Pathankot, schools will be shut on Monday, May 13.
Interestingly, Ferozepur DC had earlier said at 5.24 pm that schools would reopen Tuesday, and Fazilka DC had issued a similar statement around 4 pm. However, both districts reversed their decisions in the evening. Fazilka DC’s message read, “As a precautionary measure, all schools in Fazilka district will remain closed for the next 48 hours. The situation is peaceful. Schools are being closed purely as a preventive and precautionary step. Please do not panic and follow the instructions issued by the district administration.”
Deputy commissioners in Gurdaspur and Pathankot also urged residents to observe a voluntary blackout after 8 pm as a preventive step.
Indigo has cancelled flights to and from Amritsar for May 13.
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