Why Are Schools Closed in Punjab's Border Districts? A Look at Recent Security Measures

Security Precautions in Punjab's Border Areas

On Tuesday, educational institutions in five border districts of Punjab were closed as a precautionary measure. Officials reported that a blackout was implemented in the Amritsar and Hoshiarpur regions, specifically in Dasuya and Mukerian, the previous night.

Colleges and universities in Pathankot and Amritsar also remained closed, although online classes were permitted by authorities in Amritsar.

Schools in Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Tarn Taran were shut down, while those in Gurdaspur, Sangrur, and Barnala resumed operations.

The district administration in Amritsar announced that residents could return to their normal routines on Tuesday morning.

The blackout in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur was a precautionary step, with electricity restored by 11:42 PM on Monday.

An IndiGo flight bound for Amritsar had to return to Delhi on Monday evening due to the blackout, leading to the temporary closure of the airport.

Drone activity was reported in Jalandhar on Monday evening, prompting the suspension of electricity in certain areas. The Deputy Commissioner, Himanshu Aggarwal, confirmed that armed forces had neutralized a suspected surveillance drone near Mand village.

Residents were advised to report any debris from flying objects to the police and to maintain a safe distance.

Punjab shares a 553-kilometer border with Pakistan, and despite the closure of schools in some districts, markets in the border areas were bustling with activity on Monday.

This comes after New Delhi and Islamabad reached an agreement on Saturday to cease military actions immediately, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile exchanges.