Schools Shut In Six Punjab Border Districts Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
Chandigarh, Punjab: All schools across six border districts in Punjab were ordered shut on Thursday as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following Operation Sindoor, India’s precision missile strikes on ‘terror targets’ across the border.
The schools were closed in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran, according to officials. Authorities cited precautionary measures in light of the heightened security situation as the reason for the closures.
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Tensions surged after Indian armed forces launched pre-dawn missile strikes on May 7 targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These included high-profile militant bases in Bahawalpur, linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Muridke, a known Lashkar-e-Taiba stronghold. The strikes came in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, including a naval officer and a Nepalese citizen.
The Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner ordered the closure of all schools from May 8 to May 11.
In Ferozepur, schools were directed to remain shut for 72 hours, with further instructions awaited. Similarly, Fazilka authorities also announced an indefinite closure until further notice.
Security forces remain on high alert across the Punjab border belt.
All government and private schools in the border districts of Rajasthan, including Barmer, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar and Jaisalmer have also declared a holiday until further notification.
Furthermore, as per the central government, 21 airports in the North and North-western India, including the Amritsar airport, will remain shut till May 10. No flights will be operated from here. Earlier, IndiGo cancelled its flight operations in 11 cities across north, northwestern, and central India until May 10, following aviation authorities’ directives regarding airport closures.
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Following Operation Sindoor, the government issued a statement saying that its actions have been “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature”.
“No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” the statement added.
After the strikes, Pakistan responded with heavy shelling across the border areas, killing 12 people including an Indian soldier. The Indian government remains on high alert in the event of further retaliatory actions from the neighbouring country.
