PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 25: A massive 227-kg live bomb, believed to be from World War II, was safely defused by the Indian Army along the Subarnarekha riverbank in East Singhbhum district on Wednesday, averting a potential disaster.
Discovery and swift response
The explosive was found during excavation work near the Panipoda–Nagudsaai area under the Baharagora police station, causing panic among locals. Initial assessments revealed that the decades-old bomb was still active and highly dangerous. The administration quickly sealed the area and enforced strict security measures.
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Operation and safety measures
The operation was supervised by SSP Piyush Pandey, ensuring evacuation and coordination among agencies, while Baharagora police station in-charge Shankar Kumar Kushwaha managed ground operations. The Army’s bomb disposal squad carried out a drone survey before defusing the device using bunker containment techniques, surrounding it with sand to reduce blast impact. A one-kilometre radius was evacuated, and movement was restricted during the operation.
Situation under control
Authorities confirmed that a blast could have caused significant damage to life and property. The situation is now under control, though search operations continue in nearby areas to check for other unexploded devices.
Keywords: WWII bomb Jharkhand, Subarnarekha river, East Singhbhum news, bomb disposal, Indian Army, Baharagora explosion alert