Gujarat Airports Shut, Drone Threats Trigger Alert

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and aviation authorities have issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), temporarily suspending all civil flight operations at 32 airports across northern and western India till 05:29 IST on May 15. The affected locations include seven airports and one Air Force Station in Gujarat—Bhuj, Jamnagar, Kandla, Keshod, Mundra (Adani), Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), and Naliya (Air Force Station). 

All except Naliya were initially under NOTAM from Thursday with restrictions till May 9, but the closure has now been extended in response to evolving threats.

Airlines have issued advisories confirming cancellations from these airports and urged passengers to verify flight statuses before travel.

The suspensions follow a series of aerial intrusion attempts across the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. According to the Ministry of Defence, drones have been sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla to Bhuj. 

These include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. The last three locations are in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

In Ferozepur, an armed drone struck a civilian area, seriously injuring members of a local family. Security forces have sanitised the site, and the injured have received medical assistance. 

A post from the Ministry of Defence confirmed, “Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones... Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in injuries to members of a local family. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces. The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch & prompt action is being taken wherever necessary. Citizens, especially in border areas, are advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential.”

In response to the situation, the Gujarat government has deployed 154 Class-2 medical officers across six border districts—Jamnagar, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Banaskantha, Patan, and Kutch. 

The doctors, drawn from various state-run hospitals, have been temporarily reassigned “in the public interest,” according to a notification from the Chief Personnel Officer of the Health Department. These deployments aim to bolster healthcare infrastructure and ensure a swift response to potential emergencies.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Police’s Cyber Crime Cell, under CID Crime, has instructed all police commissioners, range inspectors general, and district police superintendents to monitor social media round the clock.

A circular issued to the officers states that any online content—posts, videos, posters, comments, or messages—intended to harm the morale of the Indian armed forces in relation to the Indo-Pak situation must be reported to the designated WhatsApp number of the State Cyber Crime Cell in Gandhinagar.

Further precautionary steps include the cancellation of all types of leave for officials across Gujarat. A government notification states that officers and employees of all departments, boards, corporations, panchayats, municipal corporations, autonomous bodies, and grant-in-aid institutions must return to duty immediately. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel posted on social media, “Given the prevailing situation, all types of leave for officers and employees of all departments and offices of the state government, as well as boards, corporations, panchayats, municipal corporations, and autonomous and grant-in-aid institutions, have been cancelled with immediate effect. Instructions have also been issued to the heads of the respective departments or offices to ensure that officers and employees currently on leave report back to duty with immediate effect.”

Medical, paramedical, and support personnel under the Health and Medical Services Department have received specific directives to report to their respective headquarters without delay. The instruction follows a broader directive issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Gujarat Secretariat.

On Friday, Chief Minister Patel conducted a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar, placing all border-connected districts on high alert. Administrative, police, and district officials joined the meeting via video conferencing to present detailed updates on the implementation of security measures. 

Patel later visited the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) to assess coordination efforts and preparedness. “I gave necessary instructions and guidance to the officials. The state administration, along with central agencies, is fully alert and actively engaged in ensuring the safety of citizens,” he stated. 

A district-wide blackout has also been imposed in Kutch until further notice.

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