Jammu on High Alert: Power Shutdown as S-400 Air Defence System Intercepts 8 Pakistani Missiles
JAMMU, May 8, 2025 – In a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, Jammu city was plunged into darkness late Thursday night as electricity was shut down to facilitate the activation of India’s advanced S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defence system. Security agencies confirmed that eight missiles launched from Pakistan targeted Jammu’s civil airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and surrounding areas. All missiles were successfully intercepted and neutralized mid-air by the S-400 system, averting a potential catastrophe.
The missile attack, reported around late evening, triggered loud explosions and air raid sirens across Jammu, Samba sending residents into a state of panic. The Indian Air Force, in coordination with other armed forces, deployed the Russian-made S-400 system, which effectively destroyed the incoming projectiles. No significant damage or casualties were reported due to the high-altitude interceptions.
The power shutdown was implemented as a precautionary measure to secure the region during the activation of the air defence network. Electricity will be restored in most areas by early morning. The Indian government stated that the S-400 system, capable of tracking and intercepting aerial threats up to 600 km away, played a critical role in thwarting Pakistan’s retaliatory strike, which followed India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7. The operation saw precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
“India’s air defence systems, including the S-400, responded swiftly to neutralize the threat. All eight missiles were intercepted in the air, ensuring the safety of our citizens,” an official statement from the Defence Ministry said. The ministry also confirmed that no Pakistani military installations were targeted in India’s counterstrikes, which included the destruction of a Pakistani air defence radar system in Lahore.
The attack on Jammu came amid heightened cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), with Pakistan intensifying artillery and mortar attacks in Poonch and Rajouri districts. A mortar shell damaged a Gurudwara in Poonch, further escalating local tensions. The Indian Army responded proportionately to the ceasefire violations, which claimed 13 civilian lives and injured 59 others, according to the External Affairs Ministry.
Jammu’s civil airport, a key strategic and civilian hub, was placed under heightened security, with air raid sirens sounding in the vicinity. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has temporarily closed several northern airports, including Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, as a precautionary measure, leading to significant disruptions in air travel across the region.
Pakistan’s military acknowledged the failed missile attack but claimed India launched drones targeting its territory, a claim refuted by New Delhi. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed retaliation, labeling India’s earlier strikes an “act of war,” raising fears of further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
As the situation remains volatile, Rajasthan has sealed its borders with Pakistan, and Punjab Police have canceled all officer leaves to maintain heightened vigilance. The international community, including the UK, Russia, and China, has called for restraint to prevent an all-out conflict.
India’s deployment of the S-400 system has been hailed as a game-changer in its defence capabilities, underscoring its readiness to counter any aerial misadventure. The nation remains on edge as security forces stay on high alert, prepared for any further provocations.
