A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and three Army personnel were injured on Monday after an accidental mine blast during a routine patrol near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.
The incident occurred in the forward Kalal area of the Nowshera sector, a strategically sensitive stretch along the LoC where troops regularly conduct surveillance and anti-infiltration patrols.
According to police officials, the injured personnel belonged to the 4 Kumaon regiment and were immediately evacuated from the site following the explosion.
Blast occurs during routine patrol near LoC
According to the Hindustan Times, officials said the incident took place at around 11 am on June 16 while soldiers were carrying out a patrol in the forward area.
An accidental detonation of a landmine injured one JCO and three soldiers during the operation.
Initial medical assistance was provided at the site before all four injured personnel were shifted to the Army's Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialised treatment.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the injured personnel, while their condition is being closely monitored.
Security agencies are also assessing the exact circumstances that led to the accidental explosion.
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Kalal sector remains a sensitive border zone
The Kalal area in Nowshera remains one of the important operational zones along the India-Pakistan border.
Hindustan Times noted that troops frequently patrol the region to maintain vigilance against infiltration attempts and secure vulnerable stretches along the LoC.
The terrain poses unique challenges due to its difficult topography and the presence of defensive minefields installed over the years as part of border security measures.
Accidental incidents involving mines, though relatively rare, continue to remain a risk during military operations in such areas.
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Operation Sheruwali continues in Rajouri forests
The incident comes as security forces continue the ongoing Operation Sheruwali in the dense Dorimal forests of Rajouri.
Hindustan Times mentioned that the large-scale anti-terror operation, launched in late May, is focused on tracking suspected militants believed to be hiding in the mountainous Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan belt.
The operation has intensified over the past few weeks, with troops conducting extensive search operations across difficult terrain marked by thick forests, rocky slopes and steep hillsides.
The mission has already witnessed casualties. On June 7, an Army jawan died after accidentally slipping from a rocky mountain slope while participating in the operation.
Earlier, on May 28, heavy firing and shelling were reported from the Dorimal forest region as security forces tightened their cordon around suspected militant positions.
