Security tightened across northern States amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions

Commuters on a road during a blackout in view of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, in Jalandhar, Punjab, on May 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Amid heightened tensions along India’s western border following recent counter-terror operations, security measures were intensified across northern States, including Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

On the night of May 8, blackouts were enforced in several districts of Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Rupnagar, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, as part of coordinated civil defence protocols. Chandigarh also observed a blackout, while shops and commercial establishments were directed to close early on Friday (May 9, 2025) evening.

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In a statement issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, all shops – including restaurants – were instructed to close by 7 p.m. on May 9, with operations permitted to resume at 6 a.m. the following day. Exemptions were granted to medical establishments.

Earlier in the day, air raid sirens were sounded in Chandigarh around 9:30 a.m. following an alert issued by the Air Force station regarding a potential aerial threat. A subsequent announcement declared the all-clear roughly an hour later.

Government officials have described the situation as “dynamic”, necessitating enhanced readiness across departments. In Chandigarh and Haryana, all leave for personnel in essential services – including police, health, and civil defence – was cancelled, with orders issued to ensure round-the-clock availability.

The Chandigarh Administration directed all government employees, including those in boards and corporations, to remain at their respective headquarters until further notice. Similar instructions were issued by the Haryana government.

In Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened a high-level meeting in Shimla to review security preparedness. He instructed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to maintain heightened vigilance and ensure security arrangements at key installations, including religious sites, airports, dams, and bridges.

In a preventive measure, the Punjab government announced the closure of all educational institutions – government, private, and aided – for a period of three days. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the decision was taken in view of the evolving security situation.

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and adhere to official advisories, while emergency protocols remain in force.