Hamirpur soldier killed in mine blast along LOC
JAMMU: A soldier died along the Line of Control (LOC) in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on late Friday night reportedly after accidentally stepping over a mine during a patrol.
During monsoon, anti-personnel mines drift away from their place and pose a threat to soldiers on the LOC.
The deceased soldier has been identified as Sepoy Kamal Dev Vaidya, a native of Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.
“On Friday night, Sepoy Kamal Dev Vaidya was on an operational duty in Krishna Ghati Sector. While moving during the duty, Sepoy Kamal Dev Vaidya was critically injured in an accidental mine blast. He was immediately evacuated to the nearest medical facility but later succumbed to his injuries,” said a defence spokesman.
Sepoy Kamal Dev Vaidya, aged 27, hailed from Ghumarwin village in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his mother Vanita Devi. Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur condoled the death
Pia-marked balloon found
Meanwhile, a PIA (Pakistan International Airlines)-marked dummy aeroplane balloon was also recovered near the LOC in KG sector on Friday.
However, nothing incriminating was found from it. It was the seventh such aeroplane shaped balloon found along the borders of J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan since March this year.
On March 30, a similar balloon with the letters PIA written on it was found in Mendhar in Poonch.
Similar balloons were found in the Hiranagar area of Kathua on March 9 and in Gharsana, Rajasthan, on March 11. On March 16, it was recovered in Bhalwal area of Jammu and 10 days later, another such balloon was found at Dera Baba Nanak, Batala, in Punjab.
On March 29, it was again recovered in the Kanachak area of Jammu.