All commercial establishments, including shops and restaurants, in Chandigarh have been ordered to close by 7:00 PM today, May 9. The directive was issued by the Department of Public Relations of the Union Territory in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, air raid sirens were sounded across the city following a warning from the Air Force station regarding a possible aerial attack. “An air warning has been received from the Air Force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies,” an official advisory stated.
This is the second consecutive day that air raid sirens have been activated in the region. On Thursday night, India’s defence systems successfully intercepted Pakistani drone and missile strikes targeting several cities, including Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot.
Chandigarh is currently on high alert and the neighbouring Mohali administration has also issued an alert urging residents in sectors adjacent to Chandigarh to stay indoors and avoid windows and glass surfaces.
According to the Defence Ministry, Pakistan’s attempted strikes covered at least 15 locations, including Chandigarh. The escalation is seen as retaliation for Operation Sindoor, a coordinated missile offensive that destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian operation came in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed all the states and Union Territories to invoke emergency measures under civil defence rules in order to remain prepared in case of any attack.