JAMMU — A tense calm gripped Jammu on Friday following a complete blackout order enforced across the region after a series of explosions and air-raid sirens were reported near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch and Rajouri sectors. The sudden escalation comes just two days after India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
Sources confirmed that multiple explosions occurred in the early hours, triggering fears of retaliation amid heightened cross-border activity. As a precautionary measure, authorities in Jammu ordered a total power shutdown, plunging parts of the region into darkness to avoid becoming a visible target in the event of further hostilities. Security forces remain on high alert with surveillance intensified along sensitive installations.
In a related incident late Thursday night, the Border Security Force (BSF) successfully foiled an infiltration attempt in the Samba district near the International Boundary. BSF officials reported that around 11 p.m. on May 8, alert troops detected suspicious movement and repelled the intrusion with swift action. The attempted breach further underlines the fragile security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
Adding to the night’s volatility, the Indian Army confirmed it shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector amid an exchange of artillery fire. Meanwhile, high-ranking defence sources revealed that Pakistani forces made a coordinated attempt to strike Indian military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur using drones and missiles. However, all three threats were intercepted and neutralised with no casualties reported, thanks to timely intervention by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic defence protocols.
These developments follow India’s decisive military operation on May 7, in which the armed forces targeted nine terror camps believed to house operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 28 civilians — one of the deadliest attacks in recent memory.
While there has been no official statement yet from Pakistan, India’s defence establishment has confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation. With cross-border hostilities intensifying, the region remains on edge, bracing for further developments in what could become a prolonged standoff.