On Thursday, the government of Punjab announced a three-day closure of all educational institutions due to increasing tensions along the India-Pakistan border.

Punjab, which has a 532-km border with Pakistan, will see all schools, colleges, and universities—whether government, private, or aided—shut down as a precautionary measure, according to Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

In addition, the Union Territory of Chandigarh has also declared a closure of schools until Saturday, as reported by local sources.

The Chandigarh administration indicated that a warning had been received from the air force regarding a potential attack from Pakistan.

Residents in the Union Territory were advised to stay indoors and avoid balconies as sirens were activated.

In Haryana, educational institutions in Panchkula will also remain closed until Saturday, as per reports from unnamed officials.

The Indian Army reported that the Pakistani military had initiated multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the western border on Thursday night. Additionally, ceasefire violations were noted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army stated that these drone attacks were successfully repelled, and a strong response was given to the ceasefire breaches.

On Thursday night, the Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan targeted military installations in Punjab's Pathankot and Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu and Udhampur regions with missiles and drones.

The Integrated Defence Staff reported that the Pakistani threat was neutralized without any losses on the Indian side.

A blackout was enforced in several North Indian cities amid concerns of drone attacks from Pakistan, affecting areas such as Amritsar, Jalandhar, Samba, Jammu, Baramulla, Kishtwar, and Bikaner.

This escalation follows India's military strikes on Wednesday against what were claimed to be terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation, named Operation Sindoor, targeted nine sites.

Reports indicate that at least 31 individuals were killed and 46 injured in Pakistan as a result of these strikes, with Islamabad asserting that civilians were harmed and labeling the operation a breach of its sovereignty.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that Operation Sindoor was executed with precision and care to avoid civilian casualties, reiterating that the action was measured and aimed at de-escalation.

In retaliation, the Pakistan Army shelled Indian villages along the Line of Control, resulting in 16 fatalities, according to India's defence ministry.