Calm Returns After Days of Cross-Border Tensions; Schools Remain Shut in Some Punjab Districts
New Delhi, May 12 – After nearly a week of heightened cross-border tension marked by drone strikes and missile exchanges, northern border areas of India witnessed a welcome respite on Monday. No shelling, no drones, and a notable easing of emergency restrictions brought a sense of cautious optimism among residents in the affected regions.Ceasefire Understanding Brings Immediate Relief
The easing of hostilities follows an agreement reached on Saturday between India and Pakistan to halt all military actions across land, air, and sea. The understanding brought instant results, with Monday recording no incidents of conflict along the sensitive border regions.Punjab, which shares a 553-kilometre-long border with Pakistan, saw a visible return to routine. Markets in border towns such as Pathankot, Ferozepur, and Fazilka saw crowds return, although schools remained closed in several districts including Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. In Pathankot and Gurdaspur, colleges and universities also stayed shut as a precautionary measure.
Locals Hope for Long-Term Peace
Residents expressed relief while acknowledging the lingering fear from recent events. "India has taught a lesson to Pakistan and it has been successful in sending a strong message," said a grocery shop owner in Pathankot, where multiple drone attacks were reported but successfully repelled by Indian security forces.In Ferozepur, villagers who had earlier fled returned to their homes. Daler Singh, a resident of Jallo Ke village, shared, "Most of us had left, but now we are cautiously returning. Life seems to be returning to normal, and we’re heading back to our fields."
Another local from Ferozepur echoed similar sentiments, stating, "The situation is normal now. We hope the ceasefire holds and peace prevails."
Jammu and Kashmir Sees First Peaceful Night
Jammu and Kashmir, which bore the brunt of the earlier confrontations, also reported a calm night. “The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border,” said the Indian Army in a brief Monday morning statement. No incidents were reported, marking the first undisturbed night in several days.Rajasthan Border Districts Observe Blackout
While peace was noted in most regions, Rajasthan remained on high alert. A full blackout was observed Sunday night in its border districts. In Barmer, red lights suspected to be drones were seen in the sky, prompting the district administration to issue a warning on social media platform X: “Incoming drone activity spotted. Please stay inside your houses and observe blackout.”No drone was brought down, but the alert underscored ongoing vigilance.
Signs of Normalcy Begin to Return
By Monday morning, a sense of normalcy returned to many border areas. Locals were seen at tea stalls and shops, exchanging updates and expressing cautious optimism. “Things appear to be back to normal now. Last night was peaceful,” said Jalam Singh, a resident of Jaisalmer.While the situation has improved, residents and authorities alike remain watchful, hoping that the ceasefire holds and peace continues in the border regions.