Tensions along the India-Pakistan border reached a new high on Saturday morning after fragments of an unidentified projectile were found in Mughlani Kot village near Amritsar, Punjab. The debris, discovered in an agricultural field, reportedly caused a small blast and burnt the surrounding area, though no injuries were reported.
Local Sarpanch Gursahib Singh said the incident occurred around 5 AM. “Afterwards I came to know about the blast… no one is injured,” he told reporters. Residents suspect it may have been the remains of a drone shot down by Indian forces.
“There was a blast and we rushed out; parts of this drone are lying around… What they are doing is wrong; we are giving them a befitting reply,” said another villager.
This is the second such incident in Punjab in recent days. In Kanganiwal village in rural Jalandhar, a drone-related explosion had damaged a house, terrifying residents. Surjeet Kaur, a local, described seeing a red flash followed by a massive explosion that destroyed water tanks on rooftops and caused a power blackout.
MoD Confirms Armed Drone Attacks Across India
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that 26 locations across the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) have witnessed drone sightings, including suspected armed UAVs. Locations affected span across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, including:
- Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu
- Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta
- Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, Lakhi Nala
A particularly disturbing incident occurred in Ferozpur, where an armed drone struck a civilian area, injuring members of a local family. The injured have received medical assistance, and the area has been sanitised by security forces.
“The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert… all aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems,” the MoD stated.
Indian Retaliatory Strikes Underway
In response to Pakistan’s attack on 26 Indian sites, Indian forces launched retaliatory strikes in the early hours of Saturday, targeting four airbases inside Pakistan, according to defence sources.
Intermittent firing continues along several LoC sectors. The situation remains volatile as Indian countermeasures intensify, following Pakistan’s Hamas-style multi-drone and rocket barrage on May 7–8.
Advisory for Citizens
The Ministry of Defence has urged citizens in border areas to:
- Remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement
- Follow local safety instructions
- Stay informed through official government channels
“While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential,” the MoD emphasized.