Two soldiers injured in landmine explosion in J&K's Poonch
Jammu, Aug 6
Two soldiers were injured while trying to defuse a landmine in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, said officials on Thursday.
The officials said the soldiers were trying to defuse the landmine at Kanga Gali in Mendhar sector on Wednesday night when it went off.
"The injured soldiers were immediately rushed to an Army hospital for treatment. The landmine was noticed by a patrolling party of the army, and subsequently, the experts were summoned to defuse the explosive device," officials said.
As part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system, the forward areas are dotted with landmines, which sometimes get washed away by rain.
These are technically called 'drift landmines', and most accidents along the Line of Control (LoC) are caused by these landmines.
Accidents caused by drift landmines along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir primarily happen when heavy monsoon rain, flash floods, and soil erosion dislodge old anti-personnel mines, washing them into previously cleared or safe pathways.
As these explosives drift into unmarked territories, they pose a severe hazard to patrolling soldiers, border residents, and livestock.
Severe weather, such as widespread cloudbursts and flash floods or sudden mudslides, severely erodes the mountain terrain where protective grids are deployed.
The forces of water runoff shift the buried, often rusted anti-personnel explosives down ridges and into streams or patrol routes. This strips away the safety provided by mapped and fenced minefields.
Accidents due to drifting landmines have occurred in the past in Baramulla, Poonch, and Rajouri districts of the union territory where strips of 'No Man's Land' are covered by landmines as part of the anti-infiltration grid.
Meanwhile, a rusted unexploded ordnance was recovered from the Nalwa Degwar Terwan area and was later safely destroyed by the bomb disposal squad of the Army. The device, believed to be a hand grenade, was noticed by some labourers engaged in road construction work in the area, the officials said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a reminder of the dangers our armed forces face even during peace time. The drifting landmines due to monsoon rains is a known problem, but it seems like more needs to be done to map and secure these areas properly.
It breaks my heart to read such news. Our jawans are our real heroes. I hope the Army takes extra precautions and maybe use technology like drones to detect these drift landmines before they cause more harm. Salute to the brave soldiers! 🇮🇳
Every year we hear about these drift landmine accidents during monsoon. Why isn't there a permanent solution yet? Maybe the government should invest in clearing these old minefields and replacing them with modern surveillance systems. Our soldiers shouldn't have to deal with 50-year-old explosives while protecting us.
Thoughts and prayers to the injured soldiers and their families. The article highlights a significant challenge, and it's good that the authorities recovered that unexploded grenade too. Safety measures along the LoC need constant upgrading, especially with extreme weather becoming more common.
It's concerning that we still rely on landmines as an anti-infiltration measure. These old mines are a danger to our own soldiers, villagers, and even livestock. It's time for a comprehensive review and modernization of border security protocols.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.