Schools in five border districts of Punjab are set to reopen on Wednesday, May 14, after a temporary shutdown prompted by heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan. The reopening marks a return to normalcy after precautionary measures were implemented last week.
The districts where schools will resume operations include Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Ferozepur. Gurdaspur, which also shares a border with Pakistan, had already reopened its schools on Tuesday.
The Punjab government had initially ordered a three-day closure of all academic institutions in border districts beginning May 8, following an escalation in cross-border military activity, including drone and missile strikes. While schools in most parts of Punjab reopened earlier this week, those in the border regions and Sangrur remained closed as a precaution.
District officials confirmed that schools would now reopen, operating from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. “Schools will open tomorrow (Wednesday) from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm,” said the Amritsar district administration in a statement.
Meanwhile, authorities in Amritsar and Pathankot had earlier urged citizens to participate in a voluntary blackout on Tuesday night. Residents were advised to turn off external lights at 8 pm and minimize indoor lighting, especially in the event of a red alert. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney warned that non-compliance during a red alert could lead to centralized power shutdowns.
Despite the recent volatility, signs of normal life have begun to emerge. Markets were bustling in many border towns by Monday, though educational institutions remained closed in some areas until the latest announcement.
On Monday, precautionary blackouts were enforced in Amritsar, and in parts of Hoshiarpur district such as Dasuya and Mukerian. An Amritsar-bound IndiGo flight had to return to Delhi due to blackout conditions and the temporary closure of the airport.
There was also a security incident in Jalandhar, where drone activity was detected. A suspected surveillance drone was reportedly neutralized near Mand village by armed forces, leading to localized power shutdowns.
India and Pakistan reached an agreement on May 10 to de-escalate the situation, ending four days of intense military exchanges along the border. The restoration of regular school schedules is being seen as a positive step toward the resumption of everyday life in Punjab’s sensitive border zones.
Sources By Agencies
