Markets Closed, Craters Found, Injuries Reported Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
Chandigarh, May 10 – Panic gripped several parts of Punjab and neighboring Haryana on Saturday following explosion-like sounds and the discovery of unidentified metallic debris, prompting authorities to shut down markets and advise strict caution as tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.Explosion Sounds and Air Sirens Spark Alarm
Early morning residents of Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur woke up to what they described as loud explosion-like noises. Air sirens blared across Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Hoshiarpur, adding to the fear in a region that shares a 532-km border with Pakistan.Authorities in Pathankot immediately moved into high alert. Markets were shut down, and a 24/7 control room was activated. Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal urged residents not to touch or pick up any unidentified objects that may have fallen from the sky. “Such materials can be dangerous,” he warned, cautioning of possible legal action against violators.
Projectiles Damage Homes, Injure Civilian
In Jalandhar’s Kanganiwal village, an unidentified projectile struck a residential area around 1.30 am. A migrant labourer sustained injuries to his arm and was hospitalized. Eyewitnesses described a red flash in the sky, followed by a thunderous explosion that shattered window panes and damaged multiple water tanks and a car.“There was smoke all around,” said Satinder Kumar, a local resident. “Our water tank was destroyed, and many windows were blown out.” Another resident, Muskan, said the explosion forced families to evacuate their homes in panic.
Markets Shut Across Several Districts
In light of the incidents, district administrations in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Kapurthala, and Pathankot ordered the closure of markets, malls, and high-rise commercial buildings. Only medical stores were allowed to remain open in some areas.Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal and Phagwara Additional Deputy Commissioner Akshita Gupta issued advisories urging people to avoid open areas and refrain from gathering in large crowds.
Craters and Debris Found in Multiple Locations
Officials confirmed the discovery of debris from unidentified objects in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Pathankot. In Phagwara, a metallic object created a 7–8 feet deep and 12–14 feet wide crater in a field between Khalyan and Sahni villages. Another crater was found in Chhichhra village of Gurdaspur after a suspected projectile impact.In Sirsa, Haryana, villagers also reported a loud blast at midnight. The next morning, metallic debris was discovered in nearby fields, later collected by defence personnel.
Drone Attacks and Escalation with Pakistan
The overnight panic came on the heels of Pakistan launching a fresh wave of drone attacks targeting 26 locations from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat for the second consecutive night. Indian defence forces successfully intercepted and destroyed multiple drones in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Amritsar.In one incident, a projectile from a downed drone injured three members of a family in Ferozepur’s Khai Pheme Ke village, setting their house and car ablaze.
Tensions have intensified dramatically since the Indian military's precision strikes on Wednesday on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which had cross-border links.
Authorities continue to urge calm while maintaining heightened vigilance along the border districts.
