Panicky people in pockets of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan scrambled to stock essentials and withdraw money from ATMs as the Centre told these states to evacuate those living close to the Paki
Panicky people in pockets of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan scrambled to stock essentials and withdraw money from ATMs as the Centre told these states to evacuate those living close to the Pakistan border.
This was after Indian forces conducted surgical strikes against terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, sparking apprehensions of retaliation by the neighboring country.
In Gujarat’s Kutch, fishermen were asked not to venture into deep sea and report any suspicious movement. The Border Security Force put all its units on “high alert” in the four states.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal asking him to immediately start evacuation in view of escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. Residents in places near the border have been asked to switch off lights during the night.
The ceremonial beating retreat ceremony at Attari border was also closed for the public on Thursday. Schools in border areas have been shut. Six districts of Punjab — Ferozepur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Taran Tarn, Gurdaspur and Pathankot -share boundaries with Pakistan.
In J&K, the situation was tense more in villages along the international border in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts than in those close to the 740-km long LoC in Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipore and Kargil districts. Several buses were sent to these villages to shift people.
In Punjab, long queues could be seen at all petrol stations. Emergency wing of Pathankot Civil hospital has been vacated and patients undergoing treatment have been shifted to other wards.
The health department has been directed to keep adequate stock of medicines and emergency drugs, officials said. The food and supplies department has also been asked to arrange stocks of food and emergency supplies.
“We are in a state of panic and are scared,” Kulwant Singh of village Kamalewala said, adding that following the announcement of evacuation he packed his baggage and left his home.
Jaspal Singh, a youth from village Hastewala, who along with his wife and two kids left the village, said he is scared and was proceeding to his relatives in Ferozepur City.
As soon as the news about the evacuation spread in the Dera Baba Nanak town, there was panic and chaos all over the villages and most of the petrol pump and ATMs witnessed long queues.
