Are schools open tomorrow? Check which states have announced a holiday on May 8

As tensions rise between India and Pakistan, several north Indian states have announced emergency measures, including blackouts, school closures, and the cancellation of official leaves.
The trigger for these heightened security protocols was Pakistan's attempted attack at three military bases in India. The attack was thwarted by the Indian defence forces and no losses were caused, but loud explosions were heard in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and several other towns in J&K and Punjab.
Punjab, sharing a 532-km border with Pakistan, has emerged as a critical zone. The state has cancelled all police leaves and shut down schools in six border districts: Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. Blackouts were also enforced Thursday evening in districts including Pathankot, Amritsar, and Chandigarh.
"All districts near the border have been placed on high alert," said Punjab minister Aman Arora. "The role of the Punjab government becomes extremely crucial during any military tension."
Neighboring Haryana has followed suit by cancelling leaves of police personnel and health department officials. Authorities have directed all officers to remain at their respective district headquarters, ready for any emergency.
Schools in Gurgaon will remain closed on May 9, officials announced.
The Delhi government has also scrapped leave for all employees and initiated preparedness drills across districts. District magistrates are reviewing health and disaster readiness in the national capital.
Rajasthan, with over 1,000 km of international border, has imposed stringent blackouts in Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur, ranging from 9 pm to 4 am. Schools have been closed in five western districts, and red alerts issued in Sri Ganganagar. Drone flights and firecrackers have been banned in several areas, while flight operations at Bikaner, Kishangarh, and Jodhpur airports have been suspended till May 10.
Gujarat, which shares both land and maritime borders with Pakistan, has cancelled police leave and increased surveillance along its coast. Inspector General Ashok Kumar Yadav said coastal districts like Jamnagar, Morbi, and Devbhumi Dwarka are on alert, with law enforcement urging local communities to report any suspicious activities at boat landings or remote villages.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

25 minutes ago

• Time of India

As Indians leave Israel, Odia student decides to stay back

1 2 Rourkela: In the midst of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, compounded by the US' recent bombing of nuclear sites in Iran, an Odia student has taken the decision to stay back in Israel even as other Indians are returning home. Despite the Indian govt's efforts to evacuate its nationals from the conflict zone, Taranga Dehury, a 29-year-old post-doctoral researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has opted to stay back, hoping the situation will stabilise soon. He cited a decrease in the frequency of missile strikes on Israel as a reason for his decision. "I have been hearing the sound of sirens for incoming missiles, drones and rockets. But they are not in our area," Dehury told TOI from Israel. A resident of Maranda village in Angul district, he has been conducting post-doctoral research at the university's Institute of Chemistry since March this year. The Indian Embassy in Israel initiated an evacuation operation on Sunday, but Dehury has chosen not to register for the process. "The places particularly affected, like Tel Aviv, Central and North Israel, are about 60km from my university campus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo The frequency of missile strikes on these places has decreased over the last three days," said Dehury, who remains focused on his studies. "I am expecting the situation to improve soon. Although the operation to evacuate Indians was started by the Indian govt, I decided not to leave," he explained. "If it becomes necessary to leave for safety reasons, I will decide at that time." The recent escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict has significantly disrupted daily life in the region. The Hebrew University, along with other institutions, had temporarily closed doors before reopening last Thursday. But following the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, Israel's Home Front Command issued new guidelines, restricting activities to essential services and suspending educational activities and gatherings. Like Dehury, Satyaranjan Biswal, another student from Odisha studying at the Hebrew University, has apparently decided to stay back in Israel. But despite repeated attempts, he could not be contacted.

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Akhilesh: Storing poll data must, will oppose EC move

Lucknow: Stressing that it is important to store election data, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that the decision of the Election Commission to destroy the video footage of the election process after 45 days could have been taken "under pressure from the BJP". "We will oppose the EC's decision. If the question is where to store the data, there are CCTV cameras installed in most houses and shops in the country. Data is stored even in homes and shops," Akhilesh said. "This govt claims that the biggest data centres in the country are being built in Uttar Pradesh . The state govt is announcing special packages for data centre owners. When such big data centres are being built, how can there be no space to store election data," he asked. "It is important that the election data is stored and remains safe. It appears that the Election Commission is taking such a decision under pressure from the BJP," Yadav said. In an apparent reference to Kundarki bypolls, he said that the CCTV footage showed policemen in civic dress coming out after voting. "They say privacy is being violated. This is not about privacy. This is a mafia act by the police to loot votes. It should be exposed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Este verano disfruta de 50GB gratis! Simyo Haz clic aquí Undo We will tell the Election Commission that our privacy will not be violated by this. If they want affidavits from voters, we will request voters to submit them. Whatever is captured in CCTV cameras of Kundarki should be telecast on the TV channels to show who have cast the vote," he said, adding that even powerful countries like America were conducting election through ballots. On Indians stranded abroad, the SP chief said, "Some people from Uttar Pradesh have gone on a tour. I spoke to them. They said 2,500-3,000 people are stranded, and India is not helping. Flights are returning empty, but there is no one to bring them back. Since June 19, none from this group could return. They demand that the govt and the opposition should look into their issue." "I appeal to the govt to arrange special flights and resort to special diplomatic methods to bring back Indian nationals stranded in other countries," Yadav said.

Business Standard

an hour ago

• Business Standard

India debunks claims that US used Indian airspace to strike against Iran

India on Sunday dismissed as "fake" claims by certain social media handles that the US fighter jets used Indian airspace to launch strikes against Iran. The US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran overnight, with President Donald Trump warning of additional strikes if Iran retaliates. 'Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. This claim is FAKE,' PIB Fact Check said in a post on X. 'Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation #MidnightHammer,' said the fact check unit of the Press Information Bureau that functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It said that the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine had explained the route used by US aircraft during a press briefing.