The streets around Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 vibrated with patriotic chants on Saturday as waves of eager young men and women lined up to join the Civil Defence Volunteers under the call of Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav. The slogans of Vande Mataram, Pakistan Murdabad, and Indian Army Zindabad thundered through the air, creating an electrifying atmosphere charged with nationalistic zeal. Instead of seeking peace or calm, the youth voiced a fiery demand: they wanted the administration to train them to eliminate the enemy, reflecting the feverish mood gripping the city.
This surge of nationalist energy comes against the backdrop of a tense and dangerous escalation on India’s western front. On Friday night, Pakistan unleashed a wave of drone attacks targeting Punjab’s border districts — including Ferozepur, Fazilka, Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran — leading to a night of chaos, blackouts, and intercepted aerial threats. One of the most alarming incidents unfolded in Ferozepur, where a neutralised Pakistani drone crashed into a home in Khai Feme Ke village, severely injuring three members of a local family. Monu Singh, son of Lakhwinder Singh, along with his mother Sukhwinder Kaur, suffered burn injuries and were rushed to a private hospital. Officials reported that Sukhwinder, who was cooking at the time, sustained the most critical burns.
A senior officer, requesting anonymity, revealed that the village lies dangerously close to a military cantonment and the drone attack was likely aimed at the army base but fell short, damaging civilian property instead. Friday’s attack was not an isolated event — red-coloured swarm drones were spotted targeting strategic points such as Srinagar airport and Awantipora airfield in Kashmir.
Indian military sources confirmed that drones were detected at no fewer than 26 locations across the International Border and Line of Control — stretching from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in Gujarat. Some drones were laden with explosives, while others were equipped for surveillance, escalating fears of further attacks on both military and civilian infrastructure. The army swiftly ramped up security in affected zones, especially around key bridges and vital installations in cities like Ferozepur.
Authorities responded with sweeping emergency measures. Punjab enforced an immediate blackout across its six border districts at 8 p.m., plunging towns into darkness as sirens blared. Power was restored only by dawn on Friday. In Haryana’s Ambala, District Magistrate Ajay Singh Tomer extended blackout orders and banned the use of generators or inverters for outdoor lighting, warning that any visible lights could invite a drone or airstrike. Meanwhile, Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, bordering Punjab, issued its own advisory urging residents to shut off all lights and stay indoors, halting all unnecessary vehicular movement overnight.
Compounding the disruption, the Airports Authority announced the continued suspension of all commercial flights from Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport until May 15, a ban also extended to Chandigarh airport. In Mohali, malls and cinemas will remain closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily until further orders, while in Chandigarh, non-essential businesses were ordered shut from 7 p.m. Friday, though pharmacies were allowed to remain open.
Saturday morning brought another moment of tension as Chandigarh authorities sounded fresh air raid sirens, urging residents indoors — the alert was lifted after an hour.
This wave of cross-border hostility is unfolding in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor, a precision offensive launched on May 7 to hit terror camps in Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir. Speaking in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri sharply criticised Pakistan’s latest moves as “provocative and escalatory,” accusing Islamabad of deliberately targeting civilian areas, hospitals, and schools in addition to military targets.
Yet amid this high-stakes geopolitical drama, the youth in Chandigarh showed a hardened resolve. At Sector 18, young volunteers expressed unwavering determination, many calling not just for enrolment in civil defence but for direct combat training. While the administration has welcomed their enthusiasm, officials have stressed the importance of organised, disciplined action under official protocols — not vigilante responses.
With tensions peaking, India’s military and civilian systems are on maximum alert. But Saturday’s display at Tagore Theatre makes one truth clear: in these fraught days, the spirit of India’s young generation is blazing, and their hunger to serve and defend their country is stronger than ever.
