Truce breach keeps Chandigarh on high alert
Day after Pakistan violated an understanding on pausing hostilities with India, Chandigarh and its satellite towns of Mohali and Panchkula on Sunday remained on the edge. The defence and civil administrations were maintaining high alert under the wait-and-watch mode.
Even as all curfew-like restrictions were lifted with immediate effect on Saturday evening, uneasy calm continued to prevail in the entire tricity region, especially in the vicinity of defence and civil installations on Sunday.
Though no fresh drone strikes were reported in this part of the region in the past 24 hours following an understanding between India and Pakistan to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, the residents preferred to stay indoors despite it being a holiday on Sunday. Unlike normal days, the vehicular traffic and public movement on the roads and streets in the tricity remained considerably low today.
The authorities have asked people to resume their normal activities and maintain calm, but stay alert. Despite the situation remaining normal, the tourist and public places, including the Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Leisure Valley, Sector 17 Plaza, and leading malls like Elante, CP-67 and North Country, continued to wear a deserted look on Sunday, with the visitor footfall remaining much less than any other holiday.
“The situation continues to be normal and completely under control with no need for the public to panic,” the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria, said, while disclosing that the defence and civil authorities were working in complete coordination and continued to remain in a high state of operational readiness.
Kataria, who, along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, chaired an all-party meeting and interfaith meeting with the political and religious leaders from different parties and faiths in Chandigarh on Saturday evening, said the UT and its vicinity remained on the Pakistan radar during the days of heightened tension, but the swift and timely action by the defence and civil forces defused all drone strikes that were aimed to hit this part of the region. These strikes failed to cause any damage to the infrastructure and people, he added.
Emphasising the need for not letting the guard down, the Governor-cum-Administrator said all such challenges need to be faced boldly and bluntly as the enemy cannot be trusted anymore.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Chandigarh and Punjab for supporting the defence and civil administrations during the conflict, Kataria said India gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani forces.
Stressing the significance of civil defence training, he said tight vigil was still being maintained as it was the need of the hour.
Ever since India struck terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in the early hours of May 7 under Operation Sindoor to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Chandigarh and its vicinity had remained on the neighbouring country’s radar.
Housing several vital defence and civil installations, this region remained under fire from Pakistan’s “provocative” action of targeting defence infrastructure and civilian areas using drones, long-range weapons and fighter jets, which were defused by the timely and effective “preventive” action jointly taken by the defence and security forces.
“We have been keeping all our available resources ready for countering the enemy’s attack and ensuring the safety and security of our infrastructure and people in future as well,” said the Governor-cum-Administrator.
Having the Army Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir and the IAF base at Mullanpur, which is part of the Western Air Command and houses No. 2224 Squadron Agni Baan (responsible for operating SA-3 Pechora surface-to-air missile systems), Chandigarh region was on Pakistan’s radar for obvious reasons, said sources.
Besides the DRDO’s two major establishments, forward ammunition depot, IAF’s base repair depot, defence academies and international airport were among the other key installations in and around the city, which were put under enhanced security and vigil.
Scientific establishments under extra vigil
After receiving the inputs from the government, the security at scientific installations was stepped up on Sunday. The CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation and CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in Chandigarh, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Mohali and others have been put under strict security protocols.
Mohali schools reopen today
The schools, colleges, coaching centres and other educational institutions, which were shut since Friday, will reopen as per routine timings in Mohali from Monday. However, the educational institutions in Chandigarh and Panchkula will reopen from Tuesday due to Monday being a public holiday on account of Buddha Purnima.
International airport remains shut
Even as the Delhi airport continues to operate normally, the Chandigarh international airport in Mohali will remain shut till 5.29 am on May 15 due to operational reasons. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other aviation authorities had issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across Northern and Western India for all civil flight operations.
Panjab varsity exams from May 15
Panjab University, which on Saturday said it would hold the earlier postponed semester exams from May 13, on Sunday notified that these will commence from May 15, as per the already notified schedule. However, the CET (UG) entrance exam, which was earlier scheduled for May 11, will be conducted on May 12, at the examination centres notified earlier.
