On Thursday evening, a civil defence drill was activated in Jammu city in response to a series of loud bangs that reverberated across the area. Residents reported hearing these explosive sounds at least three times, each occurrence separated by roughly 15 minutes. The situation escalated quickly, prompting immediate counter-measures as a complete blackout ensued.

Reports flooded in from various neighborhoods including Greater Kailash, RS Pora, and Chhani Himmat, where locals described the alarming noises followed by sightings of several red projectiles illuminating the night sky.

Akhil Razdan, a resident of Greater Kailash, shared his unsettling experience. He described the sounds as reminiscent of a drone or missile attack occurring very close to his home, which is situated about 7 kilometers from the Jammu airport. “At first, I thought it was firecrackers, but when I went to the terrace, I saw at least eight red balls in the air, likely part of a drone attack that our air defence systems managed to intercept. The moment those red balls appeared, the air sirens started blaring and the entire area was plunged into darkness,” Razdan recounted.

Another resident, Vijay Kumar from RS Pora, echoed Razdan's account, noting that the incidents unfolded in a similar manner with multiple explosions occurring in quick succession.

The residents of Jammu were left in shock as the explosions continued, particularly alarming given their proximity to sensitive locations like Jammu airport and the Sunjuwan military camp. Eyewitnesses reported at least eight distinct explosions heard throughout the city, a clear indication of escalating tensions in the region.

Indian air defense units were reportedly engaged in intercepting several missiles that were believed to be targeting the areas of Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia. The initial wave of potential drone or missile attacks commenced around 8:15 PM, with red interceptor missiles seen soaring through the sky as they successfully struck their targets.

As the situation unfolded, electricity was cut across the entire region, and the activation of air raid sirens only heightened the sense of panic. Many residents were heard screaming in fear as they witnessed the interceptor missiles taking action against the incoming threats.

The series of attacks occurred in at least five distinct waves, with multiple drones entering Jammu's airspace until approximately 9:30 PM, culminating in a fifth wave that began at 9:22 PM. This alarming situation is viewed as a fresh attempt by Pakistan to escalate tensions, particularly following their earlier engagement targeting 15 military locations within India that had been thwarted by Indian military defenses.

Sources within the defense community have expressed grave concerns over this latest escalation, particularly due to the targeting of civilian areas within a city located so near to the border. This tactic has drawn comparisons to tactics employed by the militant organization Hamas. Reports suggest that last month, leaders from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan met with Hamas operatives in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, further intensifying fears of coordinated efforts to destabilize the region.