Explosions, thick plumes of smoke, and widespread panic dominated viral videos across social media as India launched 'Operation Sindoor'-a coordinated military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was executed in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Indian forces, employing advanced precision munitions and loitering munitions, targeted nine key locations linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), groups accused of orchestrating cross-border terrorism against India.

Footage circulating online captured the intensity of the strikes, with orange fireballs lighting up the night sky and civilians fleeing in panic. Dashcam and mobile videos showed secondary explosions and crowds gathering on streets as distant blasts echoed. However, fact-checks revealed that many viral clips were either outdated or unrelated to Operation Sindoor, with some originating from conflicts in Gaza and others even traced to video games. Despite the confusion, official visuals released by the Indian government depicted the destruction of targeted terror infrastructure, reinforcing the message of a swift and focused military response.

The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the operation was "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations to minimize the risk of broader conflict. Intelligence inputs guided the selection of targets, and the strikes were carried out entirely from Indian territory. The government reiterated that the mission aimed to hold accountable those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, while demonstrating strategic restraint in both planning and execution.

In the aftermath, Pakistan reported at least 26 civilian deaths and 46 injuries, while India claimed the elimination of dozens of terrorists and denied any civilian targeting. The strikes triggered immediate artillery retaliation from Pakistan, resulting in further casualties along the Line of Control. Both nations convened emergency meetings, and airspace disruptions rippled across northern India and Pakistan, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.