Four Indian Army soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were injured after a landmine exploded during a routine patrol along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri on Tuesday.
According to the military officials, the incident took place in Kalaal, a forward area in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. An army unit was conducting a routine patrol along the border when a landmine was inadvertently activated, causing a massive explosion.
As per the information, other security personnel deployed along the border immediately rushed to the scene upon hearing the explosion. They quickly initiated a rescue operation.
The JCO and three soldiers injured in the accident were immediately given first aid and taken to a military hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
How did the accident happen?
Officials explained that landmines are laid in forward areas as a security measure to prevent terrorist infiltration from across the border. However, sometimes, heavy rains and mudslides can cause these landmines to be swept away from their original location and become inaccessible.
According to preliminary investigations, this incident was caused by a person accidentally stepping on a similar drifting landmine. Following the incident, security forces have intensified search operations in the area as a precautionary measure.
Drone sighted in Rajouri
In a separate incident, a suspected Pakistani drone was sighted over a forward village along the International Border in Rajouri district, officials said on Tuesday.
The officials added that the drone-like object, with a blinking light, was seen moving from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) into Indian side in the Sunderbani sector late Monday night.
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After briefly hovering between Mahadev Gap and Kalal village, the suspected drone returned. On Tuesday morning, the security forces launched a search operation to ensure there is no airdropping of any payload like narcotics or weapons. However, nothing objectionable was recovered during the search operation, the officials said.