In Pics: Widespread blackouts in Punjab, Rajasthan, J&K, and Gujarat as India thwarts Pakistani attacks

View of a blackout at the Heritage Street near the Golden Temple premises in Amritsar.

Reasi: Locals during blackout.

Srinagar: A pedestrian on a road during blackout.

Kutch: A vehicle moves on a road during blackout.

City of Jaisalmer during blackout.

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control(LoC) and the International Border(IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan came after India on Thursday morning targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being "neutralised".

In Rajasthan, blackout was ordered in Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Sriganganagar.

Similarly, a total blackout was enforced in several parts of the border districts of Kutch and Banaskantha in Gujarat. Both Kutch and Banaskantha districts share a border with Pakistan.

Officials confirmed that several parts of Kutch, including Bhuj, Nalia, Nakhatrana and Gandhidham towns, have been put under total blackout as a precautionary measure to deter any offensive gesture by Pakistan.

India on Thursday night swiftly thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles including in Jammu and Pathankot after foiling similar bids at 15 places in northern and western regions of the country, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict.

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control(LoC) and the International Border(IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan came after India on Thursday morning targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being "neutralised".

The Indian armed forces on Wednesday had carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under ‘Operation Sindoor’.

As the Ministry of Defence(MoD) reiterated that any attack on military sites in India will invite a “suitable response”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan only can decide if it wants to de-escalate tensions with India as New Delhi responded to the "original escalation" triggered by the Pahalgam massacre.