हित-वचन नहीं तूने मन
मैत्री का मूल न पहचानना
तो ले, मैं भी अब जाता हूं
अंतिम संकल्प सुनाता हूं
याचना नहीं, अब रण होगा
जीवन-जय या कि मारण होगा

–रामधारी दिनकर

(You have disregarded the offer of friendship, so I pledge now a war unto victory or death)

These lines asserted the might of the Indian military as commanders from the tri-services shared visuals of the Indian dominance over neighbouring Pakistan during the ongoing Operation Sindoor at a press conference held on May 12, 2025, at New Delhi. True to the words taken from Dinkar’s poem Rashmirathi, while the Indian military made the world take note of its prowess, the Indians have taken over the world with their resilience.

The Voices student reporters living in the border states, which bore the brunt of drone attacks, followed by sirens and blackouts, bring together the saga of the strength of Indians from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. The May 7, 2025 morning heralded the start of Operation Sindoor – India’s answer to Pahalgam civilian killings.

While both countries’ military power flexed their muscles, the Indians living in the border states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan fought battles of their own – living under a cloud of sirens in the darkness of blackouts and praying for normalcy to return.

Jamsheed Malik, a resident of Poonch (located in the Jammu division of J&K) and a senior reporter with the digital news channel, said that it was the first time he had witnessed fire falling from the sky and Poonch being directly attacked. Earlier cross-border incidents usually occurred near the LoC, where people have built bunkers near their homes, but Poonch lacked such structures. As a result, over 14 people lost their lives, homes were destroyed, vehicles were damaged, livestock and the main livelihood were lost.

He added that for 4–5 days, the region faced heavy shelling and drone attacks. The constant threat, blackouts and explosions caused panic and distress. Although both countries have reached an understanding with the ceasefire, the pain of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods remains. Arshdeep Singh, a resident of Uri in Baramulla district of J&K, who captured the moment of fright and despair in his lens, said that many locals were displaced and had to move to safer places.

49-year-old Dimple from Lamba Pind Chowk area of Jalandhar in Punjab, said that no area residents could sleep at night as the sound of drones haunted them. Locals feared not just nights but mornings too, when drones were shot down. She added that she saw a big ball of fire racing towards her house, but it was destroyed midair by a loud blast.

Similarly, Pranav, a student of DAV University, Jalandhar, said drone activities were mentally alarming. People were always scared and waited for blackouts in the evening hours with bated breath. She added that people living in the cantonments of Pathankot, Suranasi and Adampur areas had suffered. She reminisced about debris of burnt material being found behind her house. University students undertaking their semester exams were too stressed to study.

Deepak, a vegetable and fruit businessman from Maqsuda Mandi in Jalandhar, said that on May 10, he heard a blast at around 8:15 a.m. Later, he learnt from media reports that 3 drones were shot down nearby. He recalled hearing the thunderous sound of 3 consecutive blasts that shook everyone nearby.

From Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar, 35-year-old book publisher Atamjeet Kaur heard blasts from May 9 to May 11. The unsettling sounds created fear and anxiety, emptying markets and roads. People stayed indoors, affecting daily wage earners and local businesses. Atamjeet was perplexed emotionally when her five-year-old son asked why the terrifying loud noises were occurring. “How do you explain bombs to a child?” she said teary-eyed.

After the Indian defence forces’ operation, Pakistan first targeted Jammu. Vikas Katal, a PGT teacher at a private school in Jammu, J&K, said that the people from the valley had long been battling terrorism. Pleading for peace and harmony, he said that Pahalgam had already brought businesses to a screeching halt, and now the drone attacks have harmed it further. He now feels that with the restoration of the ceasefire, things are returning to normal.

Ravia Gupta, Assistant Professor at IIMC Jammu, said that the ceasefire was a great step, but Pakistan ended up violating it. If a country repeatedly breaks the rules, it should be dealt with strictly internationally. She told The Voices that already J&K youth were unable to cope first with COVID, then with violence and now with war. She felt that the violent attacks had taught people to live with caution while weaving the loom of peace and harmony among themselves.

Ritika, a teacher at a boarding school in Pathankot, received a message on May 8 that the school would shut down until further notice. As soon as she read the notice on her cell phone, the lights went off, and her police officer husband received a call from a colleague stating that the nation was under attack.

“It was horror nights for us, we were praying for the darkness to end. Many feared a shell would hit our houses and kill us,” said Mir Aatif, a resident of Bandipora, Kashmir and IGNOU student. He said that while Bandipora didn’t witness shelling, the border areas—Uri, Kupwara, and Tangdar—left many traumatised. He added that the area residents were asked to turn off lights at night. It was the first instance for Aatif, who was born in a conflict zone.

High school student Hasnain Ali Khan from Rajouri, J&K, was frightened, witnessing violence for the first time. He said, “I saw drone attacks in my area, and I still can’t believe it; that was the most terrifying moment I’ve ever felt. I still feel traumatized—it badly affected my mental state. Even a loud sound now gives me jitters.”

Nachhattar Singh, a sewadar at Gurudwara Akk Sahib, Pokhran – India’s underground nuclear bomb testing site in Rajasthan, told The Voices that conditions in Pokhran were disturbing due to its proximity to the international border. He said that after the ceasefire, there was a blackout the same day as Pakistan violated the agreement. People who felt calm at first blacked out again as attacks resumed. On 11 May 2025, the area felt relief as silence returned, but schools remained shut and blackouts continued daily as a safety measure.

Mahaveer Singh, a hotel owner in Jaisalmer, said, “After the ceasefire, conditions are improving. Markets have reopened, and the blackout has been called off.

Everyone in these border areas longs for peace and stability. From a distance, the situation may appear different, but those who are living through it have experienced trauma and risen above it. As both countries continue to obey the ceasefire, the Indians look forward to a new tomorrow.

71-year-old Sudha from Bathinda region of Punjab, which witnessed three drone attacks in one night, said that as a child, she had seen the 1965 India-Pak war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. During these two years, she lived in the border district of Amritsar, where people spent nights in bunkers. “We Indians have always risen up from odd ends and we shall continue to be the Phoenix. These threats and violence cannot kill our spirit,” she summed up.

Copyeditor: Megha Mann