The Delhi government has announced the cancellation of all official leave with immediate effect, in a swift response to escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border. As fears of further military confrontation grow, emergency protocols are being activated across northern India, with the national capital¡¯s administration directing complete readiness for any unforeseen situation.
According to a late-evening order by the Services Department on Thursday, no official in the Delhi government will be granted leave until further notice. District magistrates across Delhi have been ordered to hold urgent meetings with disaster management and health authorities to assess emergency preparedness.
This move comes just hours after a series of high-intensity developments unfolded across the Indo-Pak border, with Pakistani-origin drones and missiles targeting key Indian military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. The Integrated Defence Services confirmed that Indian defence systems swiftly neutralised these threats using a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, following standard operating procedures.
Despite the high-risk nature of the attacks, Indian Army officials reported no casualties or material losses. A statement issued by the Defence Ministry underlined that India remains on full alert to defend its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
Meanwhile, the ripple effect of the ongoing conflict has spread beyond the battlefield. As per PTI, all schools in Haryana¡¯s Gurugram were declared closed by Thursday evening, as parents received urgent notifications from institutions. The state of Punjab took even more drastic measures, announcing the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities for three days.
These developments follow India¡¯s pre-dawn military action under ¡®Operation Sindoor¡¯ on Wednesday, where the country launched precision strikes on terror launchpads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians.
Within 24 hours of those strikes, a suspected Pakistani drone attack in Jammu triggered emergency sirens, enforced blackouts, and even led to the abrupt suspension of an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Dharamshala. Explosions were later heard in regions of Punjab and Rajasthan, further amplifying public anxiety.
With no official word on de-escalation yet, both the government and civilians brace for what could become one of the most volatile periods in recent Indo-Pak history.