On Wednesday, the ‘air store’ from the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet missed the target due to a technical fault at Pokhran Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. So, it fell outside the firing range near Rathoda village in Ramdevra police station area of Jaisalmer. During this, there was a loud explosion. Thankfully, there was no loss of life or property.
According to the information, the air store was accidentally dropped from the fighter jet. Actually, air store means any equipment, weapon or payload that a fighter jet can carry. It is being told that the object dropped was a practice bomb. The purpose of this flight was to practice dropping bombs on the designated target.
Let us tell you that the Air Force has ordered an investigation into this incident. On receiving information about the incident, Ramdevra police and Air Force security squad reached the spot and put the entire area under tight security cover.
The second phase of the biggest multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti of the Indian Air Force till date is going to start in Jodhpur from 29 August. It is being told that for the preliminary preparations of this exercise, many fighter planes of the Indian Air Force have come to Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer and are practicing bombing various targets.
However, till now it is not known which fighter plane it was and from where it took off. Along with this, it is also being ascertained which bomb was dropped from the fighter plane. At the place where this air store fell, a pit about 8 feet deep was formed in the ground.
Eyewitness of the incident, Khivn Singh, told that on Wednesday afternoon, a plane was flying at a very low height above the village. During this time, a huge explosion took place about 2 km away from the village population. Hearing the sound of the explosion, the villagers reached the spot. A crater of up to 8 feet was formed there. Pieces of that object were lying around.
Pokhran ASP Gopal Singh Bhati confirmed the incident and said that Ramdevra police reached the spot after getting information about a bomb-like object falling from the sky near Rathoda village. Police has informed the officials of Air Force, Army, BSF and other security agencies about this. This incident happened at a distance of 15 kilometers from the Army Range in Pokhran. Police is investigating the matter. There has been no loss of life or property as the bomb-like object fell in a deserted area outside the range. How this object fell and how the explosion happened will be known after investigation.
On the other hand, the Air Force confirmed the incident on X and informed that today due to technical fault, an air store accidentally fell from a fighter plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) near the Pokhran Firing Range area. An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to investigate this incident. There is no report of any loss of life or property.