Landmine explodes during disposal at LoC, 2 Army personnel critical

Two Army personnel were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday evening, officials said. The explosion took place in Kanga Gali in the Mendhar sector when the soldiers were attempting to defuse the device.Image used for representation. (File Photo: PTI)Two Army personnel were critically injured in a landmine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kanga Gali area of the Mendhar sector after a landmine detonated while they were attempting to defuse it, sources said.The injured soldiers were shifted to an Army hospital for treatment. Sources added that heavy rainfall had washed away several landmines forming part of the Army's anti-infiltration grid, and one such mine was being disarmed when it exploded.According to officials, the landmine had first been spotted by an Army patrolling party, after which experts were called in to defuse the explosive. The injured soldiers were taken immediately to an Army hospital for treatment.Officials said the forward areas along the LoC are dotted with landmines as part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system. They said these mines are sometimes washed away during rains. In a separate development, a rusted unexploded ordnance was found in the Nalwa Degwar Terwan area and was later destroyed safely by the Army's bomb disposal squad. Officials said the device, believed to be a hand grenade, was noticed by labourers engaged in road construction work in the area.- EndsInputs from PTIPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Aug 6, 2026 14:08 IST