As tensions continue to simmer between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, the Punjab administration has issued fresh directives across key departments in a bid to remain fully prepared for any emergency.
The Amritsar airport has been shut till May 10, and all flight operations stand suspended as per Air Force and civil aviation protocols. The move comes as part of a broader civil defence and preparedness drill initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who visited Amritsar on Thursday morning, appealed to citizens not to panic. “The airport has been closed till May 10 because of the mock drills and for the Air Force. There’s no need to panic in Amritsar. We reached here from Delhi this morning, and we have been telling people not to panic and maintain peace. Our army is standing tall to face this situation,” he told ANI.
Key Developments:
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Punjab Police has cancelled all leaves of its officers and staff with immediate effect. Personnel have been directed to be available on emergency duty and respond promptly to calls.
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National Health Mission, Chandigarh UT, has also issued instructions that all medical officers in charge and staff posted at AAMs and UAAMs must cancel their leaves and be prepared for 24/7 emergency duty.
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Early in the midnight hours of May 8, the Amritsar district administration issued an urgent advisory, urging citizens to remain calm and indoors, as reported by ANI.
“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,” said the Amritsar DPRO in an official statement late Wednesday night.
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A special advisory has asked citizens not to hoard rations or spread misinformation. “If there’s a mock drill, don’t come to the conclusion that there’s an attack. Don’t hoard ration. We will get out of this situation. Don’t share things on social media which are not authentic,” Aujla emphasized.
The broader alert comes after India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
The Indian government has ordered civil defence drills across multiple states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab, to assess public readiness. Several major cities like Delhi, Patna, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Bengaluru also observed scheduled blackouts.
Officials have reassured that these are precautionary measures. Citizens are urged to stay calm, follow only official advisories, and avoid speculation during this sensitive time.
