India-Pakistan News LIVE Updates: Explosions heard in parts of J&K, Rajasthan and Punjab; blackouts in border districts

Chandigarh (Navjot Bawa)- Explosions were heard in Samba and other parts of Jammu around 8:30 am as the city experienced blackout. Srinagar too witnessed a blackout Friday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is currently in Jammu, posted on X, “Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am”. The CM appealed to the residents in and around Jammu to not step out on the streets. “It’s my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don’t spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together,” Abdullah posted on X. Meanwhile, continuous explosions were also heard in Punjab’s Pathankot and Ferozepur ab dasuha.

MEA briefing on Operation Sindoor: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan’s “farcical denials” on its attempts to target military installations in India were an example of its “duplicity”. Misri further added that India had responded “proportionately” and “adequately” to Pakistan’s attempts. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army said that Pakistan had sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations during the intervening night of May 8-9, adding that preliminary probe showed that Turkey’s SONGAR drones had been used in the strikes. Col Qureshi said that kinetic and non-kinetic methods had been used to “neutralise” the drones, adding that a Pakistani UAV had also tried to attack a military station in Bathinda, but the attempt was thwarted by the Indian Armed Forces.