Pak drones intercepted at multiple locations in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan; blackout in several cities

The Indian forces on Friday intercepted multiple Pakistani drones across multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab's Pathankot, a day after neutralising 300-400 drones in a similar attempt to target military establishments in Jammu, Pathankot, Jaisalmer and several other cities.

PTI quoted defence sources saying that drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Bhuj in Gujarat.

Here are the top updates on the big story:

• The Indian Army said drones were sighted in Jammu, Samba, Rajouri, Udhampur, Nagrota, Reasi, Awantipora, Poonch, Akhnoor as well as Pathankot and Amritsar in Punjab.

Officials said that sirens blared and multiple blasts were heard in the Jammu region as the city faced a second straight night of blackout. Loud explosions were also reported in Pathankot and Ferozepur districts, though authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the noises.

• Armed drone targeted civilian area in Ferozpur resulting in severe injuries to members of a local family: Defence sources tell news agency PTI.

• Meanwhile, Srinagar airport was hit by a suspected drone attack late on Friday, officials told news agency PTI, adding that countermeasures had been activated. In the city, mosque loudspeakers were used to convey to locals to switch off their lights as a precautionary measure.

• In Pathankot, Ferozepur, locals claimed that they heard sound of explosions while simliar reports also came in from Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran's Patti area alothough there was no official confirmation about what caused the sound. It was the second straight night of blackout and sound of blasts for Pathankot residents.

"Keep lights switched off. Keep the lights of mobile phones, cameras and inverter sets switched off. Cover windows with curtains. Cooperate with the district administration. We are for here your safety," and official announcement was sounded in the district.

• In Hoshiarpur, the district administration enforced the blackout at 8:15 pm with Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain urging people to stay indoors and not to panic.

• “Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, also putting up a picture of the city in darkness, captioning it as, “Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."

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 carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor'.