New Delhi: Jammu continues to remain tense following fresh incursion by drone, and firing along the International Border (IB), which prompted authorities to prolong the closure of the airport and educational institutions by a day on Tuesday (May 13). Meanwhile, three militants are reported to have been gunned down in an encounter in Shopian.

An encounter

In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, an encounter broke out between a joint team of the army and J&K police and a group of suspected militants this morning. The exchange of fire took place in a forested area and a group of two to three militants are believed to be trapped.

A report said that three militants have been gunned down in the encounter, which is the first to have broken out in Jammu and Kashmir after ‘Operation Sindoor’. However, there was no official confirmation when this report was filed.

Panic among residents

The drone incursion and ceasefire violation in Jammu took place soon after prime minister Narendra Modi vowed to “strike at the heart of terror decisively if our citizens are attacked” in a televised address, his first after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ to target suspected terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The army said that “a small number” of suspected drones were sighted along the IB in Samba district of Jammu division on Monday evening (May 12) which were “engaged” by the air defence system.

The number of drones which intruded into Jammu airspace was not immediately available. There were no reports of loss of life or damage to property during the drone incursion.

However, the sound of mid-air explosions caused by the anti-drone guns and air raid siren in Samba triggered panic in other border areas which bore the brunt of the artillery firing by Pakistan against the four-day long operation during which at least 19 civilians, including five children, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Anxious residents of Samba and Jammu posted videos of drone incursions, which showed several red streaks moving in the air followed by massive explosions, on X and Facebook among other social media platforms.

Following the drone incursions, the educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri of Jammu division and Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts in Kashmir were directed to remain closed on Tuesday (13 May).

"All Schools, Colleges, and educational institutions (private as well as Government) in the Jammu province, except the Medical colleges, shall remain closed tomorrow, May 13th, in view of the prevailing situation,” Divisional Commissioner Jammu posted on X.

According to reports, some schools in Chenab valley’s Kishtwar, Doda and Reasi were opened on Tuesday.

Flights

Reports said that Jammu airspace was closed and flight operations from the only civilian airport in Satwari were also suspended on Monday evening after the suspected drone sighting.

Security forces are on a high alert in Jammu where tensions are on the rise amid unconfirmed reports of infiltration and continuing drone incursions despite the US-brokered ceasefire.

Flight operations at Sheikh-ul-Aalam International Airport in the capital Srinagar resumed on Tuesday for the first time after they had been paused for 32 airports across the country last week in the wake of the Indo-Pak military skirmishes.

However, it was not immediately known whether passenger airliners had resumed operation at the airport. According to reports, civilian flights for pilgrims who are going to perform the Hajj this year will operate from Wednesday (March 14).

“In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May 2025,” a travel advisory by IndiGo on Monday night noted.

Educational institutions, offices reopen

Schools and colleges reopened in non-border districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday amid an uneasy calm.

“The Government has decided to re-open schools and colleges in all non-border districts of Jammu as well as Kashmir divisions from tomorrow, 13th of May, 2025,” J&K’s Information and Public Relations Department, posted on X.

In Srinagar city, all the government offices and schools opened on Tuesday for the first time after India struck suspected terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The capital city witnessed traffic snarls as school buses and cars of government employees rushing to their offices clogged several key intersections in the early hours of Tuesday following the change in school timings.

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