Air defence, blackouts, suspended IPL: What we know about Pak's drone attack

Tensions between India and Pakistan reached an all-time high in years on Thursday evening after a Pakistani drone and missile attack reported from parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan was thwarted by the Indian defence systems, prompting blackout enforcement, air raid sirens in the affected cities and suspension of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) match in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala midway.

It started with a suspected Pakistani drone attack that was thwarted by the Indian air defence system in parts of Jammu on Thursday evening, and expanded to explosions being heard in some areas of Punjab, sensitive areas of Rajasthan and later along the western borders at various locations as well, according to military sources cited by PTI new agency. Track India-Pakistan tensions news updates here

All of this comes a day after ‘Operation Sindoor’ military strikes carried out by New Delhi on terror infrastructures in Islamabad, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.

India fights Pak attack | What we know so far

– Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan report explosions, Pak shelling: After Jammu, explosions were heard in parts of Punjab as well, along with Pakistani shelling reported from latter's Pathankot and J&K's Kupwara and other sectors. Moments later, Pakistani drones were seen getting intercepted by Indian air defence in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. Explosions can be heard, and flashes in the sky can be seen.

– Pak attack likened with ‘Hamas’: Drawing a parallel to the tactics of the Palestinian Hamas terror group, sources in a PTI report said all "cheap" rockets directed at the Jammu region were successfully intercepted and neutralised by India's air defence units.

– Blackout in entire Kashmir: Power blackout in all districts of Kashmir was enforced after drone attacks were reported over parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan, Reuters reported, citing residents and officials.

– Govt confirms Pak attack: While the details of the attack were not shared, India's Ministry of Defence later confirmed it to be an attack by Pakistani-origin #drones and missiles. “Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin #drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). No casualties or material losses were reported. India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people,” the defence ministry said in a post on X. 

Also Read | 'No losses': Military confirms missile-drone attack by Pakistan on 3 bases

– IPL match stopped, Dharamshala stadium evacuated: The Indian Premiere League (IPL) cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals which was underway on Thursday evening at the cricket stadium in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala was stopped after the town went dark. The Dharamshala stadium was evacuated.

Air raid sirens, blackouts: The suspected drone attack led to air raid sirens and a total blackout in parts of Jammu and Punjab, as per the information available at the time of writing this report at 9 pm. Officials cited by news agency PTI said Pakistani troops were resorting to shelling along LoC in Kupwara, Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani shelling was also reported from Punjab's Pathankot. There were unconfirmed reports of explosion being heard near the Jammu airport.

– Pak launches loitering munitions: Pakistan launched loitering munitions against targets in Jammu, which Indian air defence systems were responding with counterfire, according to sources cited by PTI news agency.

– S-400 takes down 8 Pak drones, jet: Unconfirmed reports said that India's S-400 air defence system took down 8 missiles, while an F-16 jet of Pakistan was also brought down. These reports were not confirmed by the government. Pakistan launched 8 missiles at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia sector, defence sources cited by ANI news agency said, adding that all intercepted by Indian air defence units.

A Pakistani Air Force jet has been shot down in the Pathankot sector by Indian air defence, multiple sources tell ANI. More details awaited. Official government confirmation awaited. (60 kB)

– Loud explosions heard: According to Reuters and other credible sources, Jammu and Punjab towns where suspected drone explosions were heard on Thursday evening were Akhnoor, Samba, Kathua, Army cantonment Ratnuchak, while in Baramulla also locals heard two explosions. Loud explosions were heard in Punjab's Hoshiarpur and Pathankot as well.

– Drone attack, blackout in parts of Punjab: Shortly after Hoshiarpur administration declared an immediate blackout on Thursday evening after explosions were heard, Amritsar also followed suit. Blackout was enforced later in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali as well.  Bathinda district administration released emergency helplines- 0164-2862100 and 0164-2862101. In Jalandhar, DC Himanshu Aggarwal said “all drones have been neutralised at 11.20 pm as per official sources”.

Drone intercepted over Rajasthan's Jaisalmer: Moments after explosion and Pakistani shelling in parts of Jammu and Punjab, Pakistani drones were seen getting intercepted by Indian air defence in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. Explosions were heard in videos, and flashes in the sky were seen. Blackout was also being observed in Rajasthan's Barmer.

– Total blackout in parts of Gujarat: A total blackout was enforced in several parts of the border districts of Kutch and Banaskantha in Gujarat on Thursday evening. Both Kutch and Banaskantha districts share a border with Pakistan. Officials cited in a PTI report confirmed that several parts of Kutch, including Bhuj, Nalia, Nakhatrana and Gandhidham towns, have been put under total blackout as a precautionary measure to deter any offensive gesture by Pakistan.

– India hits Pak's air defence system: India struck Pakistan's air defence systems early Thursday morning in response to a wave of drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan against Indian military installations the previous night.