India, May 10 -- Long queues were witnessed at Chandigarh's Tagore Theatre, where tricity's youth on Saturday responded to the call made by the deputy commissioner (DC), inviting volunteers to join a civil defence training programme amid the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan.

India is currently experiencing its most severe military confrontation with Pakistan in decades, marked by escalating hostilities and widespread blackouts in J&K, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and other border states. The escalation was triggered by Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which left 26 tourists dead.

DC Nishant Yadav had urged the individuals above the age of 18 to "step up, get trained, and serve when it matters the most".

However, due to ...