Amid a missile and drone attack by Pakistan in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and shelling in Punjab’s Pathankot, sirens have been sounded in Chandigarh and a blackout has been enforced. Shops have been asked to close and people have been asked to go home.
A blackout has been enforced in neighbouring Mohali as well, officials said.
A statement by the district collector of Chandigarh said, “Keeping in view the ongoing emergency situation, all the residents are requested to immediately respond to the sound of the siren and switch off all the lights and also are advised not to venture outside or on the rooftops.”
After failing in its earlier effort to strike installations in 15 cities – a list that also included Chandigarh – Pakistan on Thursday evening launched at least eight missiles at RS Pura, Arnia, Samba and Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir. Missiles were also intercepted over Jammu.
Shelling was reported from Pathankot in Punjab, which is about 30 km from the international border.
Blackouts have also been enforced in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, Amritsar in Punjab and Panchkula in Haryana.
On the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, Pakistan had attempted to strike military targets in Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj. The defence ministry had said the missiles and drones were neutralised by India’s air defence systems and the debris was being collected as proof.
In response, India targeted air defence systems in several locations in Pakistan and neutralised one in Lahore.
