On Thursday, officials reported a powerful explosion at a hamlet near the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district. The blast resulted in a significant crater in the ground and sparked fear among local residents.
According to sources, the blast is suspected to be caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). It is believed that the IED may have been carried by a drone and mistakenly dropped at a site close to the border.
SSP Shivdeep Singh Jamwal of Kathua confirmed that information about the explosion was received around 9:30 pm on Wednesday.
The search operation was initiated on Thursday morning and the bomb squad has reportedly collected samples from the site for testing. “We have also launched a search operation on Thursday morning. The bomb squad has collected the samples from the site and sent them for tests,” stated SSP Shivdeep Singh Jamwal.
Ram Lal Kaliya, the Block Development Committee (BDC) chairman and resident of Saniyal village which is located just 300 metres from the border post, stated that he heard an explosion around 9:30 pm on Wednesday. He further informed the post incharge who also confirmed hearing the sound of the blast.
Ram Lal Kaliya mentioned that the site of the blast was discovered after an hour and a half, and a large crater was found in an agricultural field.
