Explosion sounds, debris falling trigger panic in Punjab and Haryana amid growing India-Pakistan tensions

A police personnel inspects the debris of an unidentified projectile which landed amid the conflict between India and Pakistan, in Jalandhar, Punjab, on Saturday. Pic/PTI

On Saturday, Pathankot in Punjab went into an alert mode after sounds of explosion were heard in the border district. Amid the escalating India-Pakistan tensions, local authorities ordered the closure of markets as a precautionary measure, reported PTI.

Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan.

After a tense night, the residents of Pathankot and Jalandhar woke up to loud explosion-like sounds, while air raid sirens were heard in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and Ferozepur, reported PTI .

The district authorities in Pathankot have set up a 24X7 control room for public assistance. Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal urged residents to immediately report any unidentified material or objects falling from the sky.

"It has been observed that some people collect such items, which can be dangerous," said Uppal, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone doing so. He further advised that no one should approach or touch any such objects, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, in Haryana's Sirsa, locals reported blast-like sounds after midnight. A police officer confirmed that debris from an unidentified metallic object had landed in a nearby field.

"We were sleeping when we heard a loud sound. In the morning, we found a metallic object in the fields. Defence personnel later collected the debris," a local villager said.

In Jalandhar's Kanganwal village, an unidentified projectile landed in a residential area early Saturday, injuring a migrant labourer and damaging several houses, reported PTI .

"I was near a window when something struck a water tank and shattered the windows of 4-5 houses," a woman said. The injured labourer suffered an arm injury and was hospitalized imdeiatly.

Local residents, including Satinder Kumar, Muskan, and Surjit Kaur, shared that explosions shook homes, damaging water tanks, windows, and a car. "A red light flashed in the sky, followed by a loud explosion," Surjit said.

Akshita Gupta, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Phagwara, issued an advisory for closure of all markets, except medical stores. Malls and high-rise buildings in the district were also closed. In Kapurthala, commercial establishments also shut down.

Debris from unidentified objects was found in Beas, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, and other areas. In Phagwara district, a crater 7-8 feet deep and 12-14 feet wide formed when an object fell between Khalyan and Sahni villages. A similar crater appeared in Gurdaspur's Chhichhrana village.

Tensions soared after the Indian Armed Forces launched precision strikes on militant camps in Pakistan and PoK following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which had cross-border links. In response, Pakistan launched 26 drone attacks from J&K to Gujarat on Friday night.

Security forces thwarted multiple drone threats in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Amritsar. In Ferozepur, a projectile destroyed by Indian air defences landed on a house in Khai Pheme Ke village, injuring three family members and setting a car and home on fire, reported PTI .

Amid growing India-Pakistan tensions, locals in Khalyan village reported hearing explosions from the fields at around 2:40 am.

Besides Pathankot, Jalandhar also heard loud explosion-like sounds on Saturday morning, while air sirens were activated in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and Ferozepur, officials confirmed.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal urged people to avoid moving out in the open or in tall buildings as a precaution. Markets in Jalandhar Cantt and Adampur were ordered to shut, and malls and commercial high-rises across the district remained closed. He urged people to remain calm and vigilant amid the tense situation in the country.

(With inputs from PTI)