Six soldiers injured in landmine explosion near LoC in J&K's Rajouri

Srinagar: Six Army soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.

They said the explosion took place during a routine patrol near the highly sensitive LoC, when one of the soldiers accidentally stepped over a landmine around 10:45 am which triggered the blast.

The injured soldiers were immediately evacuated to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Their condition is reported to be stable, though further details on their injuries have not been disclosed.

The explosion is believed to be a result of a landmine, which are part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system and are scattered along the LoC, an area prone to cross-border skirmishes and infiltration attempts.

These mines, designed to thwart infiltrators, can sometimes be displaced by heavy rains, increasing the risk of accidental detonations, an army official said.

Indian and Pakistani armies have frequently engaged in artillery duels and cross-border firing along the LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, making it one of the most militarized zones in the world.

India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir.

The latest mine blast along the LoC in Rajouri once again raised concerns over the safety of soldiers deployed in the region and the continuing risks posed by landmines and unexploded shells.