Missile-like object lands in Dal Lake as explosions trigger panic across Srinagar

A missile-like object landed deep inside Srinagar’s Dal Lake on Saturday morning, triggering loud explosions and smoke on the lake’s surface. Officials said the debris has been retrieved by security forces and is under analysis. Another suspected object was recovered from Lasjan on the outskirts of Srinagar and is also being examined. Loud bangs were heard in the area, and residents reported panic following the incident.

In Punjab, multiple explosion-like sounds were reported early Saturday across several districts including Pathankot, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and Ferozepur. Air raid sirens were activated in Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and Jalandhar, with district authorities in Amritsar advising people to stay indoors and away from windows. In Haryana’s Sirsa district, residents claimed to have heard loud blasts after midnight, though there was no official confirmation of the cause.

An unidentified projectile landed in Kanganiwal village in Jalandhar district around 1:30am, injuring a migrant labourer and damaging multiple houses. A local woman said, “I was standing near a window when some object hit a water tank (of a house) around 1.30am, shattering glasses of 4-5 houses before landing.” Another resident, Satinder Kumar, reported smoke in the area and damage to water tanks and window panes. Muskan, a resident, said, “One car was damaged... We were all scared.” Surjit Kaur mentioned seeing a red-coloured light followed by a large explosion.

In response to the situation, Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal advised residents to avoid large gatherings, stay indoors, and refrain from moving in or around tall buildings. Markets in Jalandhar Cantt and Adampur were ordered shut, along with malls and high-rise commercial buildings in other parts of the district. Debris of unidentified objects was also found in parts of Beas (Amritsar), Jalandhar, and Tarn Taran districts.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that recent actions by Pakistan are being viewed as “provocative and escalatory.” Col Sofiya Qureshi said that Pakistan attempted to attack an air base in Punjab, and in response, India carried out strikes targeting airbases across Pakistan. According to official information, Pakistan targeted 26 locations in India, including civilian, medical, and educational sites. Authorities also reported increased deployment of Pakistani troops along the border, indicating a potential escalation.