TAMULPUR, ASSAM – A tragic incident occurred in Assam’s Tamulpur when a 32-year-old man lost his life in an explosion at an army training site. The man, identified as Khempo Narzary, entered the Sukanjuli firing range near the Indo-Bhutan border to collect remnants of explosives and attempted to break an 81-mortar bomb, leading to the fatal explosion, as per the local police.
The army’s Punjab Regiment and Madras Regiment troops were conducting their regular armed training session at the firing range when the incident took place. The area is dedicated to army training sessions, and warning announcements are always made before the sessions begin. Despite being prohibited, locals often enter the area illegally to collect remains of explosives, which poses a great risk to their safety.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Pankaj Yadav, explained that the firing range is vast, and the artillery targets a range over 1,000 meters, making it nearly impossible to see if a person is standing a kilometer away. Police have reported that villagers living near the forest area frequently wander around the army-prohibited areas in search of explosives. This unfortunate incident occurred due to the man illegally entering the area during firing, leading to the unintentional fatal result.
Local police are investigating the matter further, and they have assured that the necessary activities, including a postmortem examination, will be completed before handing over the body to the family members. The incident has also led to protests from some locals, although there has been no reaction from the Indian Army as of yet. This tragic accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by entering restricted military areas and the importance of adhering to safety protocols.