Jammu city was engulfed in darkness on Friday evening as a series of explosions rocked the region, with sirens blaring in the distance. These blasts occurred amidst ongoing artillery shelling from Pakistan, a retaliatory response to India's recent military operations targeting terrorist hideouts across the border as part of Operation Sindoor.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is closely monitoring the situation, shared updates on social media. In a post on X, he described hearing intermittent explosions that seemed to be the result of heavy artillery fire. "Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," he wrote. Alongside the update, he posted an image of Jammu city plunged into total darkness, with the caption: "Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."
Abdullah urged citizens to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement. "It's my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu: please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don’t spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories, and we will get through this together," he added, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm and avoiding panic.
The blackout and explosions came as part of a broader escalation in the region, which saw Indian air defense intercepting several drones over Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot. The intercepted drones were suspected to be of Pakistani origin, further intensifying the already volatile situation.
The continuous shelling and heightened air activity indicate an ongoing military standoff between the two nations, with both sides on high alert. Authorities have called for vigilance, with military personnel in the region working to neutralize potential threats. The situation remains tense as the local population deals with power outages and a heavy military presence.