From a distance, the object appeared to be a drone or unmanned aircraft, creating anxiety among local residents amid heightened security concerns in border regions.
Panic spread across the outskirts of Satour village on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road on Sunday morning after villagers discovered a suspicious object resembling a small aeroplane lying in agricultural fields.
From a distance, the object appeared to be a drone or unmanned aircraft, creating anxiety among local residents amid heightened security concerns in border regions.
According to villagers, a few locals heading towards the fields first noticed the object and immediately informed village sarpanch Kuldeep Kaur and samiti member Paramjit Singh. The matter was subsequently reported to the police, who rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area.
During a preliminary investigation, police found that the suspicious object was actually a hot air balloon designed in the shape of an aeroplane. The balloon reportedly had the abbreviation “PIA,” associated with Pakistan International Airlines.
Authorities are now investigating the origin of the balloon and whether any material or object may have been dropped in the area. Police teams have launched a search operation in nearby fields and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure.
Officials said further investigation is underway to ascertain how the balloon reached the village and whether there is any security angle linked to the incident.
Local residents remained on alert as police continued combing operations in the area.
