4 CRPF personnel injured in accidental blast during explosives disposal in Sukma

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including two assistant sub-inspectors, were injured in an accidental explosion while disposing of residual explosives near a security camp in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred near Bodrajpadar Nala, approximately 200 metres from the Elarmadgu security camp under Bheji police station limits, when a specialised ammunition disposal team was carrying out an operation to safely destroy old and unserviceable explosives.

According to officials, an Ammunition Technician Team (ATT) from Jagdalpur had arrived at the camp to inspect explosives stored at various CRPF installations in the Konta range, including Pidmel, Dabbakonta, Kolaiguda and Elarmadgu.

The team was undertaking the disposal exercise in accordance with prescribed safety protocols when a fragment of an explosive device was accidentally propelled towards a nearby area and detonated, injuring four personnel involved in the operation.

Two personnel seriously injured

The injured were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector M K Tiwari of the ammunition technician team, Assistant Sub-Inspector Aneesh Khan of the CRPF's 50th Battalion, Inspector Amarnath Mishra of the technician team and Head Constable Kuldeep Raj of the 50th Battalion.

Officials said Tiwari and Khan sustained serious injuries, while Mishra and Raj suffered relatively minor injuries.

All four personnel were immediately administered first aid before being transported to the Government Hospital in Konta, where they were undergoing treatment.

Authorities said arrangements were being made to transfer the seriously injured personnel to a higher medical facility if their condition required advanced treatment.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar said the situation was under control.

Police rule out Maoist attack

Initial reports had suggested that an improvised explosive device (IED) had detonated during a security operation near the camp. However, police subsequently clarified that the explosion was accidental and occurred during the controlled disposal of explosives.

Officials said there was no indication that Maoist insurgents were involved in Thursday's incident.

The blast occurred while personnel were handling explosives that had been identified for disposal, rather than during an encounter or an operation involving newly planted IEDs.

The circumstances in which the explosive fragment detonated are expected to be examined to determine how the accident occurred despite the safety procedures followed during the exercise.

Earlier blast in Kanker

The incident follows another accidental explosion during a demining operation in Chhattisgarh earlier this year.

On May 2, security personnel were killed and injured when an IED detonated during an operation near the Kanker-Narayanpur district boundary.

The earlier incident highlighted the risks faced by security personnel engaged in locating, handling and neutralising explosive devices in areas previously affected by Maoist insurgency.

Thursday's accident comes months after Chhattisgarh was declared Maoist-free on March 31, following sustained security operations against insurgent groups.

Although the security situation has changed, the disposal of residual explosives and other hazardous material continues to pose operational risks to personnel deployed in the region.

Authorities said the immediate priority was ensuring appropriate medical treatment for the injured personnel, while further details concerning the circumstances of the explosion were awaited.