Drones, blackouts and sirens: What happened overnight in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan

NEW DELHI: Loud explosions were heard in Jammu city early Friday morning, triggering a complete blackout just hours after India thwarted Pakistan's attempt to target military installations in border regions. The presence of loitering munitions was reported in the skies.The explosions occurred between 3.50 am and 4.45 am, shortly after sirens were sounded. Officials said security forces promptly neutralised the threat. Videos circulated online showed flying objects and explosions in the sky as the threats were intercepted.The Indian Army shot down over 50 Pakistani drones in a massive counter-drone operation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) on Wednesday night, sources told ANI. The operation was launched in response to Pakistan's unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate multiple swarm drones into Indian territory at various locations. Army Air Defence units acted swiftly, targeting and neutralising drones in key areas including Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota and Pathankot. "Last night, as Pakistan made failed attempts to send swarm of drones across several locations along the LoC and IB, Indian Army Air Defence units carried out a large-scale counter-drone operation and neutralised over 50 drones in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot," sources said.Overnight ceasefire violations were also reported, with Pakistani troops engaging in shelling and firing in the Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu districts. Indian forces responded in kind.In a post on X, the deputy commissioner of Jammu urged residents to remain calm.In view of escalating tensions, all educational institutions—including schools, colleges, and universities—have been ordered shut in the region.A local resident said, "There was a complete blackout last night. After which, drones started flying and firing continued the entire night. Our forces are giving Pakistan a befitting reply. We have trust in our Prime Minister and our Army. All drones were neutralised by our forces. We are proud of our country. There is tension near the border but rest of the places are safe."Another local said, "As soon as we started dinner last night, we heard the sound of some explosions. Explosions were heard again at around 4:30 a.m., but they were also neutralised by our forces. There is nothing to worry about. Our forces are on alert. Bhagwati Vaishno Devi is sitting in Jammu, there is nothing to be scared of. Attacking civilians is nothing but cowardice because they (Pakistan) don't have the courage to fight our forces.This is all that they can do. Our forces are giving a befitting reply and we are proud of them."A third local added, "Last night at around 8 PM, we saw 3-4 drones. There was retaliatory firing, which continued the entire night. What Pakistan did is not right. We are not scared. Schools are closed here."Another resident of Jammu remarked, "Sounds of shelling and firing can be heard. Smoke was seen in the sky. There is a complete blackout. We have full faith in our army."According to defence sources, Pakistan launched eight missiles targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia sectors, all of which were intercepted by Indian Air Defence systems.PunjabWidespread blackouts were enforced Thursday night across several districts of Punjab, Chandigarh, and parts of Haryana including Panchkula, Ambala, and Sirsa, amid heightened military tensions following India's Operation Sindoor and the looming threat of airstrikes.Residents were instructed to switch off lights and remain indoors as sirens blared and police issued repeated public announcements. Blackout orders were issued in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and Faridkot districts.In Pathankot, the blackout began at 8:30 pm, around the time of reported air raid alerts. In Gurdaspur, it began at 9 pm and was extended indefinitely. Key facilities like hospitals and prisons were exempted from the blackout, though instructed to keep windows shut.Security drills were carried out in Kapurthala and Phagwara as a precaution. Hospitals near the border were directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply, maintain emergency water and fuel reserves, and keep backup generators ready.Explosions were reported around 10.30 pm in Bathinda after witnesses saw fireballs in the sky. Three to four blasts were heard in rapid succession, prompting an immediate blackout. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal confirmed an explosion near the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) plant and said the armed forces were investigating.Meanwhile, drone attacks were neutralised in Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar. A potential attack near Uchi Bassi village, close to Mukerian, was averted, and a projectile was recovered from nearby fields. Hoshiarpur’s deputy commissioner issued a blackout order following the incident.Residents across several districts in Punjab, including key border areas like Amritsar, Pathankot, and Ferozepur, spent a tense night. In Chandigarh, Baldev Chand, an elderly resident who went for his usual morning walk on Friday, said there were moments of concern the previous night but expressed confidence in the Indian armed forces for effectively foiling Pakistan’s attempts.Local authorities in these Punjab districts had urged people to turn off their lights and remain indoors, assuring them there was no reason to panic.Later that night, another drone attempt was foiled in Jalandhar’s Maqsudan/Suranasi area. Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal assured the public that most drones had been neutralised and no civilians were targeted.Earlier on Thursday morning, explosions and the sight of fireballs in the sky triggered panic in Amritsar. Reports of “missile debris” emerged from multiple villages. Around 1am, six loud explosions were heard within a span of seven minutes, followed by a city-wide blackout. While the district administration attributed the noise to possible sonic booms, the event left residents alarmed.Authorities released only a brief statement, saying “Amritsar is safe,” with DC Sakshi Sawhney adding, “We are observing precaution, there is no need to panic.” The city underwent two blackouts that night. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar stated these were precautionary responses to the loud sounds.By morning, debris believed to be from missiles was found in the villages of Makhanwindi, Jethuwal, Pandher, and Dudhala. Locals captured images and selfies with the fragments. Authorities did not disclose exact recovery locations, though a senior police officer confirmed Army teams had been sent to collect the wreckage.RajasthanLoud explosions were reported in Jaisalmer on Thursday night as blackouts were enforced across western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, plunging the area into darkness. A senior official confirmed a series of blasts that continued for nearly an hour after a brief pause.As panic spread, police patrols increased and sirens were sounded in Barmer multiple times. Officials confirmed that security forces remain on high alert.The situation escalated after Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday, targeting terror launchpads. The strikes were in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed.A local in Jaisalmer said, "When blackout happened at 9 in the night, we heard the explosions. Earlier, we thought it was firecrackers, but later we realised it was a real bomb, targeted at us. We never thought of experiencing this. We are happy that our government diffused all the Pakistani drones. There is no atmosphere of fear. Indian air defence system is completely efficient."In response to the border tensions, Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held a high-level review meeting with the chief secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Director General of Intelligence, and the Additional Director General of Law and Order.The meeting followed Pakistani drone activity intercepted by Indian defences in Jaisalmer. Explosions and flashes were seen in the sky. Blackouts were also imposed in Bikaner and parts of Punjab, as well as Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, Amritsar, and Jalandhar.Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also chaired a meeting with the heads of border guarding forces to assess the ground situation. He separately met with the Director General of CISF to review airport security.According to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Pakistan targeted military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur using drones and missiles. These attacks were successfully neutralised by Indian forces. The official post read:"Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means."India had earlier responded to the April 22 Pahalgam attack with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK through precision strikes. The government has made it clear that any further attacks on Indian military installations will be met with an appropriate response.