Baharagora — A team from the Indian Army successfully neutralised a 227-kg bomb from the era of World War II after it was recovered from the Subarnarekha River in Baharagora of Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district on Wednesday.
The decades-old explosive is believed to have been buried under layers of sand and surfaced during sand excavation about five to six days ago. The discovery triggered panic among locals, especially after pictures of youths posing with the missile-like object circulated widely on social media.
Acting swiftly, authorities called in a specialised Army team led by Lt Col Dharmendra Singh and Captain Ayush Kumar Singh. After examining the bomb and the surrounding terrain, the team planned a controlled disposal operation following strict safety protocols.
A 10-foot-deep pit was dug with the help of a JCB machine, and hundreds of sandbags were placed around the device to minimise the impact. Officials also sealed off a 1.5-km radius and evacuated residents from nearby houses and fields as a precautionary measure. Personnel from the police, Jharkhand Jaguar, fire services and the health department were deployed, while ambulances were kept ready.
The bomb disposal squad later carried out a carefully planned controlled blast, successfully defusing the explosive without any casualties or damage. Experts warned that unexploded ordnance, even after decades, can remain highly dangerous if disturbed.
Meanwhile, another similar bomb found in a nearby village — reportedly taken home by locals after being discovered in the river — was also safely defused by the Army.
Residents along the Subarnarekha River, who had been living in fear for over a week, expressed relief as normal life gradually returned following the successful operation.
With inputs from IANS