Schools Shut In Punjab Border Districts After Indian Forces Launch ‘Operation Sindoor’

Chandigarh: Schools in several parts of border areas of Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts, were closed till the next orders for the students safety after Indian armed forces carried out `Op Sindoor’ targeting terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

Meanwhile, even though some villagers had begun to leave their native villages located on the border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka in the past few days, their numbers swelled on Wednesday.

KARTARPUR CORRIDOR CLOSED

Meanwhile, the ministry of Home Affairs bureau of immigration on Wednesday shut down the Kartarpur Corridor till further orders, even though over 100 pilgrims had gathered at the integrated check-post on Wednesday morning. They were, however, asked to return after being made to wait for over an hour.

Opened in 2019 on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, about 4 km long Kartarpur Corridor, connects Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib – where Guru Nanak Dev spent last 18 years of his life - which falls in district Narowal of Pakistan, with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of India’s Punjab.

NO BEATING RETREAT CEREMONY

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday cancelled the beating retreat ceremonies at all the three borders - Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur and Sadki in Fazilka - till further orders. The BSF has also barricaded the roads leading to the said borders to restrict the movement of the visitors and pasted posters informing them about the cancellation of the ceremony.

A multitude of visitors from across the country and abroad visit Attari-Wagah border on either side of the India-Pakistan sides, daily to watch the flag-lowering and retreat ceremony.

Meanwhile, civil flights operations had also been closed with immediate effect at all the airports in northern states including Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamshala and Shimla.