Multiple loud explosions were heard in Jammu on Thursday evening, creating panic among residents. The explosion comes a day after India carried out strikes on nine terror camps within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is still unclear what caused the explosion.
Defence sources said India on Thursday night intercepted 8 Pakistani missiles directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia.
The official X account of Integrated Defence Staff also confirmed the development.
"Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones No losses," it posted.
"Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means," it added.
There was panic among Jammu residents after the explosions which were preceded by air raid sirens and blackouts.
“Complete blackout in Jammu. Loud explosions—bombing, shelling, or missile strikes suspected. Fret not—Mata Vaishno Devi is with us, and so are the valiant Indian Armed Forces,” former DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, Shesh Paul Vaid, posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Soon after the blasts were heard, shopkeepers were seen rushing to their homes. According to Reuters, some residents even saw red flashes and projectiles in the sky before the explosions.
{{/usCountry}}Soon after the blasts were heard, shopkeepers were seen rushing to their homes. According to Reuters, some residents even saw red flashes and projectiles in the sky before the explosions.
{{/usCountry}}One X user, sharing photos and videos of the blackout in Jammu wrote, "Missiles are flying over our houses in Jammu RIGHT NOW. This is not hearsay, I’m witnessing and recording it myself. The threat is real. Civilian lives are at stake."
Defence sources said visuals over Jammu point to Hamas-style attack on Israel, with defence sources saying pakistan army behaving like the terror organisation. They point to the ISI-Hamas meet last month in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Sirens have also been heard in other towns - Kupwara, Baramulla and Akhnoor.
Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said that reports coming out of Jammu were disturbing, and she was praying for people living along the border.
“Deeply disturbing reports are emerging from Jammu, where air strikes have reportedly hit certain areas. My heart goes out to the people of Jammu especially those living along the borders who are once again caught in the terrifying uncertainty of conflict,” Mufti said.
“In this critical moment, my prayers for their safety and strength. I urgently appeal to all sides for restraint and for an immediate de-escalation. Too many lives have already been disrupted , peace must not be allowed to slip further away.” she added.
Operation Sindoor
India on Wednesday carried out the targeted strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor', two weeks after the massacre of 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
These targets were carefully selected based on hard intelligence and their nefarious track record of perpetrating terror activities against the country.
The five terror training camps targeted with precision weapons across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir were between nine and 30 km inside PoK, while the four targets on the other side of the international border (IB) six to 100 km inside Pakistan.
The cross-border strikes by India weren’t unexpected.
The countdown to the military action began on April 29 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the armed forces a free hand to respond forcefully to the Pahalgam strike, underlining that they have full operational freedom to decide on “the mode, targets, and timing of our response.”