TOI's Jaisalmer reporter recounts Pakistan drone horror

JAISALMER: Peace was what I wanted to pray for when I was looking to join my family Thursday at Chundhi GaneshTemple, 12km from Jaisalmer. Not long after that, though, I was caught in a crossfire - of blasts, gunfire and chaos. Anything but peace.That was how the evening unfolded for me in this Rajasthan border city, engulfed in terror of Pakistani drone attacks near the high-security Pokhran area.My family was already at the temple, having gone there around 7pm. I set out to join them later and had just reached Hanuman Chowk, some distance from my home, around 9pm when I was halted by a hail of deafening blasts overhead, followed by the unmistakable rat-a-tat of gunfire. I pulled over and looked skyward, my heart pounding as multiple explosions shattered the air. Our anti-drone defence systems sprang into action, their rapid fire piercing the darkness as they attempted to neutralise the threats.My thoughts turned to my family. Matters got worse as I learned my son Harshad was on a bus to Jaipur, now caught in the middle of the crisis.Word about the drones spread like wildfire. So did panic. Youths took positions at major intersections, forcing vehicles to turn off lights and threatening those who didn't comply with sticks. Their actions, though aggressive, were driven by the need to protect the city from Pakistani projectiles. The next few hours were frenetic. My family left for home but faced renewed drone attacks around 10pm. This forced them to take shelter at Amarsagar Jain Temple.Heavy rain added to their ordeal. When they tried to return again, they were stopped by police at Moomal Chowk, on the outskirts. This was a frustrating, but necessary, security drill. They later made their way to a restaurant where they waited till 1am (Friday) till it was safe to cover the rest of the way home.In the meantime, I had my son get off the bus at Khetolai, 80km from Jaisalmer, and organised overnight accommodation for him in a village. It wasn't until 2am that my family made it home in Jaisalmer.As a journalist, I am battle-hardened, having covered many challenging situations. But Thursday offered a reality check. My own family was in peril. The Pakistani fusillade has left me deeply shaken. This night will remain etched in memory.