Amritsar: In the wake of India’s targeted missile strikes under Operation Sindoor, several residents in Punjab’s Ferozepur district have started relocating from border villages, fearing a possible escalation with Pakistan. Though no official evacuation order has been issued by the Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Army, or local authorities, villagers are voluntarily moving women, children, and valuables to safer areas.
Residents of villages such as Tendi Wala, Kalu Wala, Gatti Rajo Ke, and Basti Bhanewali were seen loading beds, appliances, and food containers onto tractor trolleys as they headed to relatives’ homes further inland. The precautionary shift follows Wednesday’s missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Kakku Singh, a 63-year-old from Babmha Haji village, said he rushed to Kalu Wala to bring his daughters and their families back home. “I was worried after hearing about the strikes. It’s safer for them to stay with us for now,” he said.
Others, like Pachho Bai from Tendi Wala, are concerned due to their proximity to the International Border — just two kilometres away. “My husband and son are away, but we’re planning to leave soon,” she said, while packing with her daughter-in-law.
In contrast, many villages in the Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts remain calm. Locals reported no panic or official directives to evacuate. “There is peace in the village,” said Sucha Singh from Naushera Dhalla. Farmers were seen working in the fields, although those with land beyond the border fencing were restricted from accessing it as gates remained locked.
Despite the mixed reactions on the ground, signs of heightened alert are clear. The Amritsar international airport has been shut to all commercial and civil flight operations until 5:30 a.m. on May 10. Educational institutions in Amritsar have also been closed as a precaution.
The military action, which came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, has drawn strong reactions. Former Punjab Chief Minister and BJP leader Amarinder Singh praised the strikes, stating, “They have been punished, as admitted by the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist himself.”
Still, Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur, Deepshikha Sharma, urged calm, stating there was no cause for panic and no evacuation orders had been issued.
Amid the tension, reports of panic buying have emerged from parts of Amritsar and Batala, with people stocking up on essentials like pulses, flour, oil, and fuel.
As India maintains a defensive posture and border states stay vigilant, the situation remains fluid, with both military and civilian responses evolving hour by hour.
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