War speculation shakes Amritsar, fails to rattle border villages; few consider relocating; ‘Not Told To Evacuate Yet'
Amritsar: The holy city — around 50 km away from Lahore — is grappling with uncertainty as the nation gears up for a mock drill on Wednesday, speculating whether India and Pakistan will engage in all-out war, limited strikes, or continue their aggressive posturing without crossing the line into direct conflict.
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Amritsar's urban areas are displaying greater anxiety about relocating compared to those living in close proximity to the international border.
"During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, I moved with my family to my brother's house in Dehradun. I am still considering going there, but I sincerely hope there is no war," said Ravinder Singh, a local businessman.
Conversely, residents of Daoke, a village of 2,200 people surrounded by Pakistan on three sides, remain seemingly unfazed by the looming threat of conflict and the prospect of relocating.
Harpreet Singh, a local resident, expressed greater concern over the Border Security Force (BSF) restricting access beyond the border fence, which has halted crucial bailing work and caused financial losses.
Similarly, former village council member Balkar Singh stated, "I don't follow the news; life is normal here. Unlike past war scares, we haven't been asked to evacuate so far, but the BSF's restrictions on accessing our fields beyond the fence are the real issue."
As tensions rise, both govt and private medical facilities in Amritsar are on alert. Dr Avtar Singh, who runs a 400-bed private hospital, affirmed the private sector's readiness. "Everyone will step forward. Our group has discussed this, and as in the past, we are fully committed to supporting our saviours, the Army," he asserted.
However, a former Indian Air Force officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the likelihood of a full-scale conventional war.
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"If there were concrete indications of an impending conflict, we might have already witnessed preemptive measures such as the evacuation of border villages, the laying of landmines, and the construction of new bunkers, as was the case during Operation Parakram in 2001-2002," he said.
Social activist Harjit Singh, recalling the 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflict, described the upcoming mock drills and blackout exercises, similar to those in Ferozepur, as efforts to ensure preparedness.
However, he suggested that advancements in modern warfare technology might render such traditional measures less effective. "Blackouts can still disorient enemy pilots, offering a brief tactical advantage—perhaps the reason these drills persist," he opined.
Meanwhile, a group of morning walkers at Company Bagh in Amritsar was overheard discussing survival techniques in the event of a nuclear explosion.
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