Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a landmine blast in the Nowshera sector, near the Khamba Fort, on Tuesday morning. Reportedly, in the process, six army soldiers were injured by the explosion, which occurs, based on officials claims, when a soldier of the Indian Army who patrols the area with his colleagues mishandled stepping on a buried landmine about 10.45 am this morning. However, the injury was not deemed a serious one, with the soldiers apparently stable at this time.
The area is close to the Line of Control (LoC) and is a part of the anti-infiltration obstacle system with landmines laid along to prevent infiltration by the enemy. However, sometimes the rains displace these mines, causing accidents like this. The officials claimed that such incidents are not unheard of in turbulent regions like these, where soldiers remain at risk always while performing their duties.
An investigation is underway to find out what really caused the explosion and assess safety measures that may have failed for personnel in this hazardous area. Though the injuries were not life-threatening, the accident underscores the dangerous environment in which soldiers operate along the LoC.
A similar tragedy with the Indian Army soldiers took place in the district of Bandipora a few days ago. There, bad weather and zero visibility resulted in the killing of four soldiers on the national highway. The remaining two suffered critical injuries after the vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the road and crashed into a deep gorge.
It would be prudent on the part of the Indian army to continue with personnel safety and wellbeing, even though it means guaranteeing regional security. These cases remind the people of the immense risks involved when armed forces work in areas where there is active conflict.
