Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following targeted airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, panic swept through parts of Amritsar’s border villages early Thursday morning. Around 1am, residents of Jethuwal, Makhan Windi, and Pandher villages heard loud explosions and witnessed flashes of light in the sky, followed by a power outage.
By morning, debris resembling missile fragments was discovered in fields and on rooftops. “There was panic all around. After the explosion, a part of the missile fell in a field at Jethuwal, while debris was found scattered over houses also. Villagers informed the police who arrived and took the debris away,” said Parkash Singh, a local resident. Similar findings were reported in Makhan Windi and Pandher under the Majitha police station.
Witnesses described seeing “illuminated objects” in the sky. “I woke up with a start on hearing the explosion. Soon, other members of the family and relatives in the city started calling up because they had also heard the blast,” said advocate Jaswinder Singh. Pieces of metal were also found on nearby rooftops.
While police remained tightlipped, with one senior officer stating, “The protocol has been changed, we cannot speak on this matter,” there has been no official word yet on the source or nature of the explosions. Since the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor—targeting nine terror sites in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—Amritsar, just 30km from the international border, has been placed on high alert. As a precaution, the Amritsar airport has been shut since Wednesday morning until further notice.
