Sirens wail through night; locals on western front gripped by fear

It was a second straight night of darkness and fear for locals of several districts on India's western border as sirens wailed Friday upon spotting of aerial threats from Pakistan that were effectively engaged by the armed forces.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

From Srinagar and Jammu to Punjab's multiple districts and Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, a vast stretch of the border areas plunged into darkness with public announcements made, urging people to switch off their lights as a precautionary measure.

Blasts were heard in the Jammu region and south Kashmir as well as in Pathankot, Ferozepur and Jaisalmer. Residents in Punjab's Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran's Patti area too reported sound of explosions, although there was no official confirmation on its cause. Air raid sirens blared in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur districts, sending people into a tizzy. Officials said a blackout was enforced in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Muktsar and Sangrur.