The mystery of the explosions that took place in Indian Punjab on the intervening night of May 7th and 8th: What did people in Amritsar and Gurdaspur see?

Amid the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, the explosions that occurred in the Indian state of Punjab during the night between Wednesday and Thursday (May 7 and 8) have become a mystery. India has claimed that during the night of May 7–8, Pakistan attempted to target multiple military installations in India and Indian-administered Kashmir, but those attempts were thwarted. In a joint press conference by the Indian Foreign Secretary and military officials, several cities in Indian Punjab were also named as being targeted. However, Pakistan military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry dismissed India’s claim Thursday evening, calling it a “fabricated story.” He alleged that India had fired a few projectiles itself. It is important to note that these conflicting claims are emerging at a time when both countries are accusing each other of violating the Line of Control (LoC) and of using missiles and drones to target each other’s military and civilian areas. In this context, it’s essential to understand what residents in Indian Punjab witnessed during the night between Wednesday and Thursday.

Bomb-like parts found

"There was a loud explosion at night. I climbed onto the warehouse and saw that the nearby fields were on fire." These are the words of Rachhpal Singh, a resident of Pandher village in Gurdaspur district, Indian Punjab, whose fields caught fire that night. Rachhpal Singh says that in the morning, some fragments resembling bomb shrapnel were found in the courtyard and neighboring homes. According to him, “We do not want war.” During the night between Wednesday and Thursday, loud explosions in the districts of Amritsar, Bathinda, and Gurdaspur in Indian Punjab caused panic among locals. Afterward, residents reportedly found some suspicious objects in the area. In Jethuwal village of Amritsar district, some people claimed to have seen a rocket-like object in the fields. Dildar Singh of Jethuwal stated that he was awakened by the explosions at night and climbed to the roof to assess the situation. He added, “In the morning, there was a commotion in the village that a missile had landed in the fields. We went to see it, and later, the police also arrived. Some parts of it had fallen into people’s houses. The police took all of them into custody.” Another villager, Lopreet Singh, said: “Around 1 a.m., we heard a very loud noise. Then we went to the roof. There, we saw something—like a light. A few minutes later, we heard sounds like an explosion. It was very frightening, and in the morning, we learned that a 6 to 7-foot-long rocket-like object had fallen in our field.”

Something like iron fell from the sky

According to information provided by reporter Surinder Maan, authorities were alerted in Sindhwan Wala village of Moga district after a “heavy metallic object” fell from the sky onto a livestock shed. The district administration took the suspicious object into custody and began an investigation. Similarly, another “heavy metallic object” was found in the fields near Talwandi Bhangaria village, also in Moga district. However, district officials have not yet confirmed what these recovered items are. Would you like this added to the previous English section or kept as a separate update?

Midnight blasts in Amritsar

Around 1:45 AM, many residents of Amritsar were awakened by the sound of explosions. Correspondent Ravinder Singh Robin reported that frightened people began coming out of their homes, unsure of the source of the loud noises. Sherjang Singh, the Public Relations Officer of Amritsar district, confirmed that the explosions were indeed heard. However, he stated that there was no official information yet regarding where or how the blasts occurred. He added that as a precautionary measure, a blackout was reimposed in Amritsar city during the night, and efforts were made to inform the public through all available channels. Ravinder Singh Robin said he was sitting and reading at home when he heard the explosions. “I was awake, but my family was asleep. The blasts were so loud that everyone woke up and came outside.” Ashok Sethi, a resident of Amritsar, also woke up to the sound of the blasts. He said, “I was half-asleep when I heard the explosion. I told my wife, but she thought I was dreaming. Then I kept hearing one loud explosion after another.” Ashok Sethi added, “I have witnessed the wars of 1965 and 1971, so I can recognize the sound of explosions.” Would you like a compiled summary of all these English translations in one document?

The administration is investigating after a suspicious object was recovered from Sindhuwala village.

What does the Indian government say?

In a press release, the Indian government stated that on the night of May 7th and 8th, Pakistan attempted to attack several military installations in northern and western India using drones and missiles. According to the Indian government, the targeted locations included Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Udhampur, Bathinda, and Chandigarh. The press release claimed that the integrated counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) grid and air defense systems neutralized the attack and that debris from the downed projectiles was being collected. On the other hand, Pakistan rejected the claims, calling them a fabricated story by India. Would you like this section included in a full translated article or formatted for publication?

What did Pakistan say?

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking at a press conference alongside the military spokesperson, stated that Pakistan would never carry out any action in Indian Punjab that harms civilians. He claimed that it was India that endangered the lives of civilians in Indian Punjab by firing projectiles, which were possibly missiles. Dar further said that India could not digest the fact that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down five Indian aircraft and two drones, and therefore fabricated the narrative that Pakistan had attacked Indian military installations. DG ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry alleged that projectiles were fired from Udhampur in India, and that some of them were deliberately made to fall in Amritsar by India itself. He described India’s claim that Pakistan had attacked 15 locations as a "fabricated story" that was "laughable." Would you like a complete translated summary of all events or just this part for now?

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Monday, May 19, 2025