After 3 nights of fear, residents sleep peacefully

For the residents of Jalandhar, the last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster — swinging between fear, hope, relief, and renewed anxiety. Last night, however, marked the first peaceful night in days, as residents were finally able to sleep without the sounds of explosions.

Over the previous three nights, loud blasts and explosion-like sounds had kept many awake and on edge. Social media was flooded with fake news and misinformation. The only source of reliable information remained the updates issued by the district administration.

Deepa Komal, a private school teacher, shared how difficult it was to explain the situation to her seven-year-old son. “He kept asking, ‘What is a blackout? Why are we having one? What is war?’ It’s hard to explain such harsh realities to a young child,” she said. “One night, the blast was so loud, he woke up and got scared.”

On Saturday, a video claiming a drone attack in Basti Danishmanda went viral, sparking fresh panic. The police and administration released a statement refuting the claim.

Aatish Bhatiya, ACP North Jalandhar, clarified that upon receiving the information, the police team promptly reached the scene and found no evidence of any drone attack. It was determined that the reported incident was actually a pile of garbage that had caught fire. He confirmed that the news was fake and urged the public not to spread misinformation. Citizens are advised to rely only on verified updates and follow the guidelines issued by the District Commissioner, Jalandhar, he said.

While the ceasefire announcement on Saturday evening brought some relief, and residents were quick to express happiness. However, subsequent violation reports created a tense environment. Still, for the first time in several nights, no explosions were heard and Jalandhar residents had a peaceful night.

Despite the fragile peace, streets across the city remained largely deserted on Sunday, as most residents chose to stay indoors. However, Sunday markets and restaurants saw a modest rush.

Ridhima Chawla, a resident of GTB Nagar, expressed both relief and gratitude: “We were woken up by repeated sirens and drone sightings for days. The night of May 9 was extremely tense. The ceasefire has brought a sigh of relief. We’re thankful to our armed forces for staying vigilant and protecting us through this aggressive phase of drone targeting. It is to them that we owe our safety.”

Swati Sharma, another resident said, “Jalandhar and nearby areas were clearly targeted. With Adampur Air Force Station and Jalandhar Cantonment being key installations, the region saw numerous drone interceptions. For many in our generation, this was the first time we witnessed such intensity in cross-border conflict. The last few days were terrifying.”

A Jalandhar Cantt resident said, “We couldn’t sleep a minute that night. Drones flew alarmingly close. The sky glowed yellow with bursts of light, and we heard explosions every half hour until dawn. We salute our armed forces. This ceasefire is a much-needed break from the trauma.”

Jalandhar