Loud blasts heard in Pakistan's Lahore amid high tensions following India's Operation Sindoor: Report

A loud blast was heard in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Thursday (May 8) morning, suggest reports. It is yet to be confirmed whether it was an explosive or something else, but the loud blast has heightened fears of further escalation between India and Pakistan, just a day after India undertook Operation Sindoor.

According to local broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters report citing an anonymous witness, the blast occurred near Walton Road, triggering panic among residents and a swift response from emergency services.

Police confirmed the blast and said investigations were underway to determine the exact cause and nature of the explosion. Multiple detonations were also reported in the Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad areas, near Walton Airport.

As per the reports, eyewitnesses described seeing plumes of smoke and hearing emergency sirens moments later. Sirens were heard in the area shortly after the explosion, adding to the sense of urgency.

Pakistan's Geo TV reported that Thursday morning, a NOTAM was issued and key air routes in Lahore and Sialkot were closed to commercial flights until noon. However, the airspace was opened soon after.

Talking to Reuters, Ali Aftab, a resident of Lahore that is about 25 km (around 15 miles) from the Indian border, said he heard a "buzzing sound" followed by an explosion around 7 am local time (0200 GMT).

"Immediately I rushed to the rooftop and saw smoke rising... the area was cordoned off by security forces soon after the incident," he said.

This comes a day after India's Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian military carried out cross-border strikes targeting nine specific sites linked to terrorism.

In an official statement, the Minister of Defence said, "The Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed."
 
No Pakistani military facilities were struck, the Defence Ministry said, adding that India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and methods of execution.