Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer, the border district of Rajasthan, will experience a 12-hour blackout from Friday onwards. The entire district will experience the blackout between 6 pm and 6 am, while a ban on the movement of vehicles will ensure roads are clear during this time.
Moreover, the administration ordered all markets in the district to shut down entirely at 5 pm, starting Friday. It also requested people to desist from holding weddings at night.
District Collector Pratap Singh issued the guidelines after drones from Pakistan entered Indian territory from the border along Jaisalmer late on Thursday night. The Indian air defence system had successfully intercepted the drones.
In the Ramdevra area, the administration ordered all shops, business establishments, dharamshalas, and warehouses to close at 4 pm, starting Friday. Moreover, drivers and passengers taking the Ramgarh-Tanot Road, connecting the town of Ramgarh with the border village of Tanot, should ensure they get off the road by 3 pm.
The Jaisalmer district collector also imposed a ban, till further orders, on drones and fireworks. Those who own drones should submit them at a nearby police station.
Movement within a five-km radius of the defence area is prohibited. If people roam there, they can face strict legal action. Additionally, Pratap Singh announced the closure of all district coaching centres, libraries, and hostels, till further notice.
There is increased security at railway stations in Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jaisalmer. In this atmosphere, some trains will likely be affected in Jaisalmer and Barmer.
At 10 am on Friday, security agencies learnt about the discovery of a bomb-like object at Jaisalmer’s Kishanghat, followed by the evacuation of the area. The air force and local police handled the situation.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)