As the tensions between India and Pakistan continue to brew, in the wee hours of the morning on 15th March 2019, Indian Airforce is reported to have carried out readiness exercises over Punjab and Jammu airspace, next to the Pakistan border.
Reportedly, Indian Air Force carried out major readiness exercise last night over Punjab and Jammu in which a large number of fighter aircraft participated. During the exercise, IAF jets, including frontline aircraft, flew at supersonic speeds in the border districts including Amritsar, reported ANI.
Sources have said that the combat drill was to prepare for thwarting any misadventure by the Pakistan Airforce of breaching Indian airspace.
In the wee hours of the morning, at about 1:15 AM on 15th March, several residents from Amritsar had tweeted about hearing loud ‘bomb like’ sounds. This had created substantial panic among certain citizens as speculations gained steam.
https://twitter.com/RigidSeeker/status/1106288219157659648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/madnish30/status/1106292526888247296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This exercise was also used to spread fake news about some people dying because of the loud sounds.
The Indian Airforce has been at a heightened state of readiness post Pakistan’s misadventure of breaching Indian airspace and attempting to bomb India’s military installations on 27th February 2019. This came after India conducted the Balakot airstrikes on 26th February 2019 in response to Pakistan sponsored Pulwama terrorist attack on 14th February that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF soldiers.