Chandigarh went on high alert Thursday morning after an air warning of a “possible attack” was received from the Air Force station. Sirens blared across the city for nearly an hour, urging residents to stay indoors.
The Chandigarh Administration posted on X (formerly Twitter), advising: “All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies.”
*ALERT*
— Chandigarh Admn (@chandigarh_admn) May 9, 2025
An Air warning has been received from Air force station of possible attack.
Sirens are being sounded.
All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies.
DC Chandigarh
#WATCH | Air siren sounded in Chandigarh as part of a precautionary measure to remind citizens to remain alert pic.twitter.com/IOl2RRqW0G
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025
In nearby Panchkula, the district administration also activated sirens and issued a similar advisory to residents.
This alert followed a series of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan in parts of Jammu & Kashmir and shelling in Pathankot, Punjab, the previous evening. Similar sirens and blackouts were reported in Chandigarh late Wednesday night.
Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav later announced that all government and private schools in the city would remain closed on Friday and Saturday due to the “emergent situation.”
On Wednesday night, Pakistan launched at least eight missiles targeting RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, and Hiranagar in Jammu & Kashmir. Indian air defence systems intercepted several missiles over Jammu. Blackouts were also reported in Amritsar (Punjab), Panchkula (Haryana), and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan).
In an official statement Thursday morning, the Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan had carried out multiple coordinated attacks along the Western Border, using drones and other aerial weapons. Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire multiple times along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a strong response was given to the ceasefire violations,” the Army said in a post on X.
OPERATION SINDOOR
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025
Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and… pic.twitter.com/WTdg1ahIZp
Between Wednesday and Thursday night, Pakistan attempted to target military installations in 15 Indian cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bhuj, and others.
According to the Defence Ministry, India’s air defence systems successfully neutralized the missiles and drones. The debris is being collected as evidence of the Pakistani assault.
In retaliation, the Indian military launched precision strikes targeting Pakistan’s air defence systems, especially in Lahore.
Tensions have sharply escalated since a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, last month that claimed 26 lives. In response, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ this week, targeting and destroying several terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
