Bandipora, May 14 -- Panic gripped Quil area of Bandipora on Wednesday evening after multiple households alleged that their electronic appliances were damaged following the installation of smart meters, with residents reporting sudden loud explosions and smoke inside their homes.

The incident occurred around 9 PM, locals said, when "bang-like" sounds were heard from kitchens and washrooms, triggering fear among families. Residents claimed that refrigerators, washing machines, LED TVs, inverters, and other costly items were damaged, causing losses running into lakhs of rupees.

"We rushed towards our kitchens and washrooms after hearing loud explosions and found smoke everywhere," affected residents said, demanding a thorough investigatio...