The Centre has sounded a nationwide alert, asking states and Union Territories to step up vigil following ‘general’ intelligence inputs that the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) may try to strike during the upcoming festive season.

The focus of the alert is on Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat and Thiruvananthapuram.

“Although there is no specific input, the states and UTs have been alerted taking in view the general information as the festival period - ongoing Ramzan and the upcoming festivals of Raksha Bandhan, Eid-ul Fitr and Onam - has always been considered vulnerable”, said a senior government official.

Onam will be celebrated on August 23, Raksha Bandhan on August 24 and Eid-ul Fitr on September 13.

The official said the advisory issued by the home ministry asked all states to increase vigil and take precautionary measures at public places including markets, shopping-malls, railway stations, bus terminals, parks and movie theatres.

The home ministry also gave out list of potential targets. These include international airports, sensitive economic installations, big hotels, tourist spots and ports. The CISF, guarding Delhi Metro, big Public Sector Undertakings and airports across the country, has been sent a separate advisory.

Apprehending disturbance or some possible retaliation by terror groups in the wake of arrest of the PDP leader Abdul Naseer Madani - an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case - the home ministry also asked both Karnataka and Kerala to deploy additional forces at sensitive locations across the states.