Fear of war sparks widespread anxiety

For seven-year-old Hazel, Pakistan was just a name—until earlier this week.

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Now, every knock on the door fills her with dread. “She says, ‘Pakistan will attack us and everyone will die,” said her mother Annu Mathew from Trivandrum, Kerala. Hazel’s fears were sparked by an awareness session at school, followed by alarming conversations among classmates.

Hazel isn’t alone. In Delhi, 36-year-old Mahendra Awasthi finds himself doomscrolling through social media, overwhelmed by the flood of information and unable to sleep. “I keep feeling I'll miss essential news. What if Delhi is next?” he said, visibly shaken. Despite reports of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, fresh reports of violations have kept tensions high.

The current anxiety stems from Operation Sindoor—an Indian military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. Since the operation began on the night of May 6-7, border areas have witnessed explosions and blackouts, sparking nationwide fear.