Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after a Pakistani drone targeted a civilian area in Firozpur, Punjab, on Friday, injuring three people. The incident occurred amidst heightened security measures and reports of numerous drone incursions from Pakistan across the International Border and Line of Control (LoC).
According to reports, a house in Firozpur caught fire after being hit by a Pakistani drone, resulting in severe burn injuries to three members of a family. One of the injured, Lakhwinder Singh, is in critical condition. He, along with his wife and brother Monu Singh, were immediately taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment.
Ferozepur police officer Bhupinder Singh Sidhu stated that authorities received information about the three individuals sustaining burn injuries and that doctors are providing treatment. He also noted that most of the drones have been neutralized by the army. Dr. Kamal Bagi provided an update, stating that one woman is in critical condition with severe burns, while the other two have lesser burns.
The incident happened as Pakistan allegedly resorted to heavy shelling along India's bordering districts in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan. It's claimed that over 25 locations in these states were attacked by a swarm of drones, many of which were intercepted by India's air defense systems.
These recent events follow escalating tensions between the two countries, particularly after Pakistan allegedly violated the ceasefire along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday. This followed India's "Operation Sindoor," which targeted Pakistani terrorist camps in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed.
The Indian Armed Forces are said to be maintaining a high state of alert, employing counter-drone systems to track and engage aerial threats. The situation is under close and constant watch, with prompt action being taken. In response to the escalating tensions, precautionary blackouts have been enforced in multiple areas, including the Akhnoor and Udhampur regions of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the Ambala and Panchkula areas of Haryana, and Firozpur in Punjab, and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha condemned Pakistan's actions, calling it a "terrorist state" for firing drones into civilian areas of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan. He expressed concern for the innocent civilians injured and urged the world to recognize Pakistan's provocations.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that approximately 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala.
Amidst these developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
