New Delhi: Just hours after a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was announced, multiple loud explosions were heard across Srinagar on Saturday evening, triggering widespread panic and confusion.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to social media platform X to express his shock and disbelief. “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!” he exclaimed in his initial post.
In a follow-up message, accompanied by a video purportedly showing tracer fire in the night sky, the Chief Minister stated, “This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up.” These statements suggest that the explosions may be a result of Indian air defence systems intercepting incoming threats.
Eyewitnesses in Srinagar reported hearing multiple blasts and seeing red streaks, consistent with anti-aircraft fire. There were also reports of a widespread power blackout in Srinagar and some other districts of the Kashmir Valley following the explosions. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incidents.
The ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced earlier in the day, following a period of heightened tensions and military exchanges. The agreement, which was to take effect at 5:00 PM IST, aimed to halt all military action on land, air, and sea. The announcement came after a call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.
However, the explosions in Srinagar, occurring just hours after the supposed commencement of the ceasefire, have cast serious doubts on the commitment to the agreement. Similar reports of shelling and drone activity have emerged from other border areas, including Jammu, Baramulla, and even regions in Punjab and Rajasthan, where blackouts have been imposed as a precautionary measure.
The sudden turn of events has raised concerns about a potential breach of the ceasefire and the fragile state of peace in the region. Further updates are awaited as authorities investigate the cause of the explosions and the implications for the newly declared ceasefire.