Tensions Escalate: Chandigarh and Patiala on Alert After Foiled Missile-Drone Attack

Chandigarh and Patiala are on high alert following India’s successful interception of a missile-drone attack from Pakistan. Authorities issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors, closed schools, and banned firecrackers in some districts. The alert follows India’s retaliatory strikes on terrorist camps after the Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir.

Heightened security and emergency measures gripped the cities of Chandigarh and Patiala on Friday, a day after Indian armed forces successfully thwarted a missile and drone assault launched by Pakistan. The attempted attack targeted three military bases, prompting a swift response from Indian defense systems.

Early Friday morning, air raid sirens were activated in both cities, creating a tense atmosphere among residents. The deputy commissioner of Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, issued an advisory urging citizens to remain indoors and avoid balconies, citing warnings from the local Air Force station about a possible follow-up strike.

Patiala district echoed similar precautions. Officials shut down all educational institutions indefinitely and requested residents to leave their homes only when absolutely necessary. In a broader safety move, the Punjab government announced the closure of all schools for three days and suspended police leave across the state.

To prevent public disturbances, district administrations in Tarn Taran and Fazilka imposed a ban on firecrackers at weddings and public gatherings. A control room has also been established to address civilian concerns and ensure a coordinated response to any emergency.

These developments follow Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike by Indian forces targeting terror camps across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The operation was in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 16 civilians dead due to intensified Pakistani shelling in multiple sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

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As diplomatic tensions climb, Indian authorities remain on high alert, emphasizing preparedness against further provocation while urging the public to maintain calm and follow safety advisories strictly.