Indian Home Ministry Issues Advisory on Air Raid Sirens Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan

Home Ministry's Advisory to Media Channels

On Saturday, the Indian Home Ministry (MHA) issued a directive to all media channels, advising them against using the sound of air raid sirens in their programs, except for community awareness campaigns. This order comes in light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following drone attacks by Pakistan in Indian territory, prompting authorities to issue air raid sirens and blackout alerts for public safety.

Context of Rising Tensions

Pakistan has been launching drones and missiles in response to India's military operations targeting terrorist bases under 'Operation Sindoor.' These actions were a reaction to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which involved terrorists linked to Pakistan. Tensions between the two nations peaked on Thursday evening, with reports of Pakistani drone and missile attacks in parts of Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan, which were thwarted by Indian defense systems. Following these incidents, blackouts were enforced in affected cities, air raid sirens were activated, and an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, was abruptly postponed.

Continued Vigilance Required

The situation remains critical as the conflict between India and Pakistan continues to escalate, with the Home Ministry urging media outlets to exercise caution in their reporting and avoid causing unnecessary panic among the public.