Poonch: Army Bomb Disposal Personnel Injured in Landmine Blast; Rusty Shells Destroyed

JAMMU: Two personnel from the Army's Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were injured late Wednesday when an old, corroded landmine exploded during a defusing operation in the Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The incident occurred while the team was attempting to dismantle the explosive, which had been detected earlier by an Army patrolling party, officials said.

The injured personnel received first aid at the site and were later shifted to the Rajouri Army Hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable, though officials did not provide further details.

In a separate incident on Thursday, Army personnel found two corroded mortar shells in the forested area of Choki Sagra under the Balnoi police outpost in the Mankote sector. A BDS team was rushed to the spot and destroyed the explosives following standard protocols, officials said.

The forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) are heavily mined as part of the anti-infiltration grid. These landmines, many of which are decades old, sometimes get displaced during heavy rainfall, leading to accidents involving patrolling soldiers, border residents, and livestock. The terrain and weather conditions make such incidents a recurring challenge for security forces in the region.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects to the nearest police or military post. The Army has also been conducting regular awareness drives in border villages about the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance and old mines.

This latest incident underscores the risks faced by bomb disposal teams operating in difficult and dangerous conditions. Their work is critical to ensuring the safety of both military personnel and civilians living near the LoC.