Outlook Business Desk
Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, multiple Indian states and union territories have taken emergency measures. Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Chandigarh have closed educational institutions, while Panjab University has postponed exams. Rajasthan has enforced red alerts and blackouts in key border districts like Sriganganagar, Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities for two days—Friday and Saturday — as a precautionary measure. This follows Pakistan's attempted missile and drone attacks on key military locations in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot, which were successfully foiled by India’s defence systems.
The Punjab government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities—whether government, private, or aided—for three days amid rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains made the announcement on social media. In addition, leaves for all police personnel in the state have been cancelled, and schools in border districts have been shut.
In the Union Territory of Chandigarh, which serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, all schools have been ordered to remain shut till Saturday. Panjab University has also postponed exams scheduled for May 9, 10, and 12, with revised dates to be announced later.
The Haryana government has closed all educational institutions in the border district of Panchkula on Friday and Saturday. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely in coordination with neighbouring Punjab and the UT of Chandigarh.
A red alert has been declared across several border districts of Rajasthan. Cities like Sriganganagar, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur are under blackout orders. Sirens were heard in Barmer and Jaisalmer as suspected drone activity and explosions were reported.
In the national capital, all government employees have been barred from taking leave until further notice. District officials are holding emergency preparedness meetings, and night-time patrolling has been intensified across sensitive zones. The Delhi Police was seen evacuating people from India Gate.
The West Bengal government has cancelled the leave of all state employees, with immediate effect. A finance department order stated that even previously approved leave stands revoked. Only medical leave will be exempt from the directive.
In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the cancellation of leave for administrative and police officials, including disaster management personnel.
These actions follow India's retaliatory strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the attempted missile and drone attacks by Pakistan on Indian cities on May 7 midnight.