NEW DELHI, May 8: Hours after its foiled attempt to target 15 Indian cities, Pakistan on Thursday night launched attack on parts of Jammu and Kashmir in an enormous escalation. While the border areas along the Line of Control and International border — RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, Hiranagar — are under heavy shelling, Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is facing air strikes.
Eight missiles were shot at RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, Hiranagar – areas with heavy military installations — which were all intercepted by the Air Defence Units.
Shortly before 9 pm, loud explosions were heard from Jammu followed by clamour of sirens and a blackout. Cellphone videos sent by locals showed lights streaking across the sky, indicating interception of the missiles and drones by the Air Defence System of the Indian armed forces.
With the activation of the Air Defence System, the sky is lighting up every other minute. On the ground, there is considerable tension. Cellphone services are down in parts of the city — an extra hurdle for locals trying to get in touch with friends and relatives.
Sources said the armed forces have shot down an F-16 supersonic fighter jet after it took off from the Sargodha air base in Pakistan. The forces had deployed an Indian surface-to-air missile defence system.
Punjab’s Pathankot – just 30 km from the International Border — has also come under heavy artillery fire from Pakistan. The city is a strategic and tactical area and serves as the entry point toward Jammu. Pakistani drones and missiles were also intercepted over Jammu region and other cities. A blackout was enforced in Pathankot and Amritsar too. District authorities have said there was no need to panic. They asked people to keep their lights switched off and stay at home.
The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir are now under complete blackout. Blackout has also been declared in Chandigarh, Ferozepur, Mohali and Gurudaspur in Punjab and parts of Rajasthan — another state that shares border with Pakistan.
The IPL Cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, that was in progress at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, was abandoned after lights were turned off as precautionary measure and the HPCA stadium evacuated.
(Manas Dasgupta)