JAIPUR: The announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday evening sent a huge wave of relief for people in the border districts of Rajasthan. Soon after foreign secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India had agreed to a ceasefire with Pakistan, people expressed great happiness over the end to hostilities by the two warring nations. The deep anxiety troubling most border residents has given way to a mood of relief and joy.
Loud slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” resonated through most cities, towns and villages of west Rajasthan. The picture in most markets areas was full of happy people who came out after the ceasefire was announced, hugged each other and thanked the administration. Along with this, the youth in groups raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Hindustan Zindabad”.
After four days of high tension, red alert, black outs and drone attacks in the border districts of Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Sri Ganganagar, people are thrilled with the swift return to normalcy. As some traders in Barmer remarked, “we are happy with the army’s action. Our country is in a strong position. We will stand with the country in future also. But now we can go back to living a normal life.”
With both countries agreeing to stop firing on land, in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm on Saturday, all orders restricting people’s movements, enforcing black out etc have been withdrawn and orders for normal functioning were issued.
Jhunjhunu Air Force jawan martyred in attack
While the military operations were on, tragedy struck Jhunjhunu as Air Force jawan Surendra Kumar was martyred during a Pakistani air strike. The attack took place on Friday night in Moga, Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir. Surendra, a resident of Mehradasi village in Mandawa, had been serving in the Indian Air Force’s medical wing for 14 years.