LoCIncident – Mine Blast During LoC Patrol Injures Four Army Personnel in Rajouri
LoCIncident – Four Indian Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), sustained injuries after an accidental mine explosion occurred during a routine patrol near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. The incident took place in the forward Kalal area of the Nowshera sector, a strategically important zone where security forces maintain continuous surveillance to prevent infiltration and safeguard the border.
Patrol Operation Interrupted by Explosion
According to local police officials, the blast occurred around 11 a.m. on June 16 while soldiers from the 4 Kumaon regiment were carrying out a patrol assignment in the forward LoC belt. During the movement, an unexploded mine reportedly detonated accidentally, leaving one JCO and three other Army personnel injured.
Authorities stated that the troops were performing standard operational duties in the sensitive border area when the explosion took place. Immediate rescue measures were launched to ensure swift medical assistance for the injured personnel.
Injured Soldiers Shifted for Advanced Treatment
Following the blast, the injured soldiers were evacuated from the site without delay. Medical teams provided first aid before the personnel were transported to the Army’s Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialised treatment and further evaluation.
Officials said the condition of the injured soldiers is being closely monitored by military medical staff. No additional details regarding the severity of their injuries have been officially released so far.
Strategic Importance of the Kalal Sector
Security agencies describe the Kalal region as one of the sensitive stretches along the LoC. Troops frequently conduct patrols and surveillance missions in the area to maintain operational readiness and detect any infiltration attempts from across the border.
Regular monitoring and movement of personnel form a key part of the Army’s defensive strategy in the sector, where terrain and security challenges require constant vigilance.
Operation Sheruwali Continues in Forested Areas
Meanwhile, security forces remain engaged in Operation Sheruwali, an extensive counter-terrorism mission underway in the Dorimal forests of the Gambhir Mughlan region in Rajouri district. Search teams have intensified operations across difficult mountainous terrain marked by dense vegetation, rocky slopes and remote forest cover.
The challenging landscape continues to test troops involved in the mission. Despite these difficulties, security personnel are conducting coordinated search operations, surveillance activities and area domination exercises to identify and track any suspicious movement.
Previous Casualty During the Operation
The ongoing operation has already witnessed casualties. Earlier this month, on June 7, an Army soldier lost his life after accidentally slipping from a rocky section of the mountainous terrain while participating in the anti-terror operation.
Sources indicated that the soldier suffered severe injuries after the fall. Although he was evacuated and provided medical treatment, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Security Forces Maintain Tight Cordon
The operation gained further intensity on May 28 when heavy firing and shelling were reported from the Dorimal forest region. Security forces had strengthened the cordon around areas where militants were suspected to be hiding within the dense forest network.
Additional personnel, equipment and logistical resources were subsequently deployed to prevent any possible escape routes and reinforce the ongoing mission.
Large-Scale Counter-Terror Mission
Launched in late May, Operation Sheruwali is a multi-agency security exercise focused on locating and neutralising armed infiltrators believed to be hiding in the rugged forested hills of the Dorimal-Gambhir Mughlan sector. The operation remains active as security agencies continue their efforts to secure the region and eliminate potential threats.