Cautious calm in areas near border; blackouts eased, markets reopen

Border districts of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat began a tentative return to normalcy Sunday following a pause in military action between India and Pakistan late Saturday.

Blackouts, widespread across several districts Saturday night, were scaled back or lifted Sunday as residents cautiously resumed daily life. Though drone sightings and sporadic reports of explosions persisted in some pockets, streets, markets and places of worship buzzed with restrained optimism.

Punjab, with a 553km border with Pakistan, endured heavy drone and missile attacks Thursday and Friday. Cities close to the border, such as Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Bathinda , which reported drone sightings, lifted blackouts Sunday but continued urging residents to shut off outdoor lights voluntarily. Hoshiarpur ordered a blackout from 9.30pm.

In Amritsar and Pathankot, unconfirmed reports of flying objects and sounds of explosions persisted into early Sunday.