Wed May 07 20:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Mysterious Explosions and Blackout Shake Punjab After ‘Operation Sindur’
Amritsar and Jalandhar, Punjab, were rattled by a series of loud explosions in the early hours of Thursday following “Operation Sindur,” a military operation whose details remain undisclosed.
Between 1:02 AM and 1:09 AM, residents of Amritsar reported hearing six distinct blasts. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar attributed the sounds to possible “sonic booms,” caused by aircraft exceeding the speed of sound, assuring the public there was no cause for alarm and that ground checks revealed no attacks. However, witnesses described the sounds as intense and frightening.
Adding to the unease, Amritsar experienced a two-hour blackout from 1:56 AM to 4:30 AM, following a shorter power outage earlier in the evening. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni urged residents to stay calm and remain indoors, attributing the second blackout to precautionary security drills.
Similar reports of explosions emerged from Jalandhar after 1 AM. However, the Jalandhar police later clarified that the sound originated from a burst truck tire in the Bhogpur area.
Following “Operation Sindur,” Punjab conducted 20 mock drills to prepare for potential emergencies. As a further precaution, the Kartarpur Sahib corridor was temporarily closed, and the Beating Retreat ceremonies at Hussainiwala (Ferozepur) and Sadki (Fazilka) borders were cancelled. Schools in border districts (Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Fazilka) were also given a three-day holiday.
While authorities maintain the situation is under control, the series of events—the mysterious blasts, the blackouts, and the heightened security measures—has left many residents on edge. The exact nature of “Operation Sindur” and its connection to the subsequent events remain unclear.
First Piper 