Jamshedpur, April 22 (IANS) A massive 227-kg bomb dating back to the Second World War, found on the banks of the Subarnarekha river in the Panipora–Nagursai area of the Baharagora block in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district, was safely defused by an expert team of the Indian Army on Wednesday.

The timely and precise operation averted a potential major disaster, bringing relief to villagers and the administration, who had been living in fear for the past several days.

Before the operation, the army team carried out an intensive technical inspection of the bomb for two consecutive days, assessing its structure, explosive strength, and possible impact on the surrounding area.

As a precaution, the entire locality was cordoned off by the army and police, public movement was completely restricted and nearby villages were kept under strict surveillance.

After all prescribed safety protocols were ensured, the bomb was successfully neutralised on Wednesday under expert supervision. The administration and local residents praised the army for its swift and accurate action.

The missile-like bomb was discovered nearly a week ago during sand mining along the Subarnarekha river, triggering panic in the region. After photographs of some youths posing with the bomb went viral, the administration swung into action and immediately summoned the army’s bomb disposal squad.

The team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Dharmendra Singh and Captain Ayush Kumar Singh, reached the spot and assessed the situation. A scientific method was adopted for the operation, with a deep pit dug using a JCB machine and a protective barricade created with hundreds of sand-filled bags. An area with a radius of around 1.5 km was sealed during the process.

Teams from the police, Jharkhand Jaguar, fire services and the health department, along with ambulances, were deployed at the site.

This was the third instance of wartime explosives being found in the area within a month. Earlier, on April 16, two live bombs from the Second World War were recovered from the same riverbank, while two more powerful bombs were found and defused in March.

Locals believe that the falling water level of the river due to summer has exposed bombs buried in the sand decades ago. Though the immediate threat has been neutralised, villagers remain concerned and have urged the administration to conduct a comprehensive survey of the area using modern technology to detect any remaining explosives and avert future dangers.

–IANS

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