Pakistan Drones Invade Indian Airspace at 26 Locations; Blackouts and Blasts Reported Amid Escalating Tensions

In a significant escalation of cross-border hostilities, the Indian Army reported the sighting of drones—some armed—at 26 strategic locations along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat, triggering blackouts and emergency alerts across multiple cities.

This wave of drone activity comes a day after Pakistan allegedly launched 300–400 drones targeting Indian territory—an act the Indian Armed Forces said was largely neutralized by air defense systems.

Drone Intrusions Across India: A Nationwide Security Alert

The drones were spotted in key regions including:

• Jammu and Kashmir: Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu

• Punjab: Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka

• Rajasthan: Jaisalmer, Barmer

• Gujarat: Bhuj, Kuarbet

• Haryana: Lalgarh Jatta, Ambala, Panchkula

One of the most concerning incidents took place in Ferozepur, Punjab, where an armed drone struck a civilian area, injuring three members of a local family. Authorities confirmed the victims suffered burn injuries and are currently under medical treatment.

Blackouts and Precautionary Measures Across Border States

In response to these aerial intrusions, the Indian government enforced emergency blackouts in several high-risk regions to minimize civilian exposure and reduce visibility for enemy surveillance. Affected areas include:

• Akhnoor and Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir)

• Ferozepur (Punjab)

• Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)

• Ambala and Panchkula (Haryana)

Residents were advised to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, and comply with local safety directives. In Srinagar, even mosque loudspeakers were used to instruct the public to switch off lights during night hours as a safety precaution.

India’s Security Response: High-Level Meetings and Mobilization

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held two high-level security meetings—first with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and then with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the three service chiefs, and the Chief of Defence Staff. These meetings aimed to assess the threat landscape and plan India's strategic countermeasures.

A government statement confirmed that on the night of May 7–8, the Pakistani military violated Indian airspace multiple times, targeting military infrastructure using drones and heavy-calibre weaponry. The Indian Air Defence Forces, including the S-400 missile defence system, were activated and successfully intercepted most of the threats.

Intentions Behind the Drone Infiltration

Initial assessments by Indian defence officials suggest that Pakistan's drone activity had two main objectives:

1. Testing Indian air defence systems

2. Gathering intelligence on military installations and operations

Forensic analysis of drone debris is underway, with early reports indicating that some of the equipment may be Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones—a sign of increasing technological sophistication in Pakistan’s arsenal.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Retaliatory Strike

This spike in border tensions follows India's Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike against terror hideouts in Pakistan conducted earlier in the week. The operation was in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 Indian lives and had proven cross-border connections.

What’s Next?

The situation remains tense along the India-Pakistan border. The Indian Army has assured the public that all aerial threats are being tracked and engaged, and that a high alert is in place.

Citizens, especially those in border zones, are urged to maintain vigilance, remain indoors during night hours, and stay updated through official government and media channels.