Missile-like object lands in Dal Lake as loud explosions rock Srinagar

Srinagar: A missile-like object landed in the middle of Srinagar’s Dal Lake on Saturday morning, triggering a loud explosion and thick plumes of smoke that briefly caused panic in the city already on edge due to escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan.

The incident occurred in the morning when residents near the lake reported a loud blast and saw smoke rising from the water. Security forces and bomb disposal teams rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched a detailed search operation.

Debris from the unidentified object was retrieved from the lake and is now being examined by forensic experts.

In a parallel incident, security personnel recovered another suspicious object from Lasjan on the outskirts of Srinagar around the same time. That too has been sent for analysis.

No casualties or damages to property were reported in either case, though Dal Lake — a prime tourist attraction — was briefly closed for civilian movement before normalcy was restored.

While the exact nature and origin of the objects remain unconfirmed, security officials say the incidents are being investigated against the backdrop of a surge in cross-border hostilities. “Given the context of recent drone threats and attempted strikes, we are not ruling out anything,” an official said.

On Friday night, drone attacks targeting Srinagar airport and the Awantipora air base in south Kashmir were successfully thwarted by security forces, officials confirmed. These attempted attacks came just a day after Indian forces reportedly intercepted efforts by the Pakistan military to target Indian military installations using drones and missiles.

Drones were also sighted in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, prompting the deployment of anti-drone systems and intensified surveillance across sensitive zones.

The situation remains tense as New Delhi and Islamabad continue to trade accusations amid a sharp spike in ceasefire violations, drone intrusions, and cross-border infiltration attempts in recent days.