Amritsar, following India’s Operation Sindoor, the district administration has informed that the ongoing blackout is part of a pre-scheduled civil defence drill. The blackout triggered in the city was experienced second time during midnight hours of 8th May.
The Amritsar District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) issued an official advisory late Wednesday, urging residents to “stay at home, do not panic and do not gather outside your houses; keep the outside lights switched off.”
Punjab | Taking utmost caution, Amritsar district administration has again started the blackout process. Please stay at home, do not panic and do not gather outside your houses; keep the outside lights switched off: Amritsar DPRO
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025
This local action is aligned with a nationwide civil defence preparedness drill ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in response to rising regional tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent military response.
Earlier today, unverified visuals on social media alleged missile activity over Amritsar, triggering public concern. However, there is no confirmation from the Ministry of Defence or Armed Forces regarding any attack in the city. Additionally, visuals claiming to show fire or damage were debunked as old videos from unrelated regions like Gaza.
Officials confirmed that cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Gwalior, and Patna also observed similar drills involving blackout rehearsals and siren activations.
There is no confirmed threat to Amritsar. The blackout is a planned safety drill. Authorities request all citizens to remain calm and refrain from sharing or believing in unverified social media content.
