Suspected drones shadow Punjab’s biggest power plant

Bathinda: Punjab's largest power plant is under a microscope after a series of wee-hour drone sorties sparked a high-level security review, though officials remain cautious about confirming the nature of the aerial intrusion.Locals in the vicinity have reported seeing a drone make at least two distinct passes over the massive, coal-fired, 1,980 MW Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) plant in Banawali village of Mansa district around 2am on Monday, with the craft reportedly exiting the area near the facility's Gate Number 2. While some villagers speculated the drones may have been operated by local hobbyists, the proximity to a critical energy asset prompted an immediate report to the Behniwal police post. Despite the reported activity, senior officials have yet to formally verify the breach. Mansa deputy commissioner Navjot Kaur confirmed the administration had conducted precautionary checks in the area following the "unconfirmed reports", "but there is nothing on record and no official confirmation". The DC added she had no information regarding the Army's rumoured involvement in the search.Bathinda Range deputy inspector general (DIG) Harjit Singh echoed the sentiment, stating that while police teams had combed the area, no central agencies had yet joined the investigation.Strategic ConcernsThe TSPL plant is a cornerstone of Punjab's energy grid. Any unauthorised aerial activity over such a "vital installation" is treated with extreme gravity in the border state, where drone incursions are frequently linked to cross-border smuggling or surveillance. Sources within the plant indicate that internal security protocols have been intensified as a "red alert" measure while authorities continue to investigate the source and intent of the flights.MSID:: 130064430 413 |