Hours before ceasefire, army foils multiple aerial attacks in Punjab

Drones were detected after crossing the International Border in several districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur, in the wee hours of Saturday

- HT Correspondents

AMRITSAR/BATHINDA/JALANDHAR/FEROZEPUR: Indian Army's air defence units intercepted and neutralised multiple armed drones and aerial projectiles launched from Pakistan in Punjab's border districts the early hours of Saturday.

The drones were detected after crossing the International Border in several border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, besides in Kapurthala and Bathinda.

According to officials, a massive crater — approximately 35 feet wide and 15 feet deep — was discovered in a field in Rajubela Chhichhran village in Gurdaspur district following a powerful explosion at around 4:50am. The blast shattered windowpanes in nearby houses, though no casualties were reported.

In Kapurthala district, another unidentified object fell in a field between Khalyan and Sahni villages around 2.40am, leaving a crater 7-8 feet deep and 12-14 feet wide. Locals reported hearing a loud explosion, and scattered debris was later recovered from the site.