Baharagora, March 25 (NationPress) In a remarkable operation, the Indian Army successfully neutralized a 227-kg World War II-era bomb unearthed from the Subarnarekha River in Baharagora, situated in East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. This explosive relic is thought to have been dropped during World War II and had remained hidden beneath layers of river sediment for decades. Its discovery during recent sand excavation operations about five to six days ago caused alarm among local residents, necessitating prompt intervention from local authorities and security forces.

The situation escalated when social media posts featuring local youths posing with the missile-like device sparked widespread alarm, leading to immediate action from the authorities.

The administration swiftly assembled a specialized team from the Indian Army, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Dharmendra Singh and Captain Ayush Kumar Singh. The team carried out a thorough evaluation of the bomb’s integrity, condition, and the geography surrounding it before commencing the disposal operation.

Following established safety measures, a 10-foot-deep pit was dug with the aid of a JCB machine, and numerous sandbags were strategically placed to form a protective barrier to mitigate the blast's impact. A 1.5-km exclusion zone was established around the site, evacuating residents from adjacent homes and fields as a precautionary measure.

Since the morning of Tuesday, the area was designated a high-security zone, with personnel from the police, Jharkhand Jaguar, fire services, and health departments stationed on-site. Ambulances were on standby, and all access routes to the river were barricaded to restrict civilian movement during the operation.

Ultimately, the Army’s bomb disposal unit successfully neutralized the explosive through a meticulously planned controlled detonation. The mission concluded without any injuries or damage.

Experts have warned that even unexploded ordnance from decades past can be incredibly unstable and pose significant dangers if disturbed.

In a related incident, another similar bomb was retrieved from a nearby village, reportedly brought home by locals after discovering it in the river. That device was also safely defused by the Army.

For over a week, fear permeated the villages along the Subarnarekha River, hindering daily activities and livestock movement. With the successful completion of this operation, normalcy is gradually being restored, and residents are expressing their relief.