Pilgrims from Akot had a narrow escape after being stranded overnight in Pathankot on Thursday due to heightened border tensions and a blackout in the area. Fortunately, arrangements were made on Friday to ensure their safe return to Akot.
As tensions flared along the India-Pakistan border following ‘Operation Sindoor’, 40 devotees from Akot, who were travelling from Himachal Pradesh to Kurukshetra, were forced to spend Thursday night in their vehicle after being halted in Pathankot, Punjab, due to the sudden escalation.
In the wake of heightened military alertness and a security blackout in Pathankot, vehicular movement was restricted by security forces citing national security concerns. The blackout was enforced across key border districts—Firozpur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran—after multiple drone and missile attack attempts were reported at 15 locations across four Indian states bordering Pakistan.
On their return journey from the Char Dham pilgrimage, a group of pilgrims from Akot faced a sudden halt near Pathankot on Thursday night, May 8, as military authorities diverted them approximately 4 kilometres outside the city. Due to the imposed security blackout, their vehicle was stopped, and they were instructed to switch off all lights and mobile phones. The directive came amid heightened border tensions and national security measures following multiple drone and missile threats.
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