Swept by Sikkim flash flood, army mortar explodes in WB, kills boy

Kolkata: A boy was killed while five others were injured in an explosion of a live mortar in Jalpaiguri of West Bengal on Thursday evening. The mortar was part of the ammunition of the Indian Army that was swept away in the flash flood in Sikkim along Teesta river which connects Bengal with the north eastern state.

The victim, Sahinur Alam (7), is a family member of the five injured– Latifa Khatun, Laku Mohammad, Ruksana Parveen, Ramzan Ali and Gumer Ali. The incident took place at Chanpadanga in Mal block of the north Bengal district.

Tabibur Rahman, a family member of the victim and the injured, found a wooden box, covered with mud, in Teesta river and took it home. The mortar exploded when he opened the box for cleaning. The five injured have been admitted to a hospital. Their condition is critical.

The Jalpaiguri district police later issued a public advisory, stating, "In light of the severe flooding in Sikkim, certain military equipment including firearms and explosives were carried away by the Teesta River. We urge the public to be vigilant and report any unfamiliar objects, crates, packages, firearms, or any suspicious items seen floating in the water to the nearest police station immediately. Please refrain from handling these items in any manner, as they pose a potential risk of a dangerous explosion."

The Sikkim land revenue and disaster management department, earlier in a public alert, stated, "The local population are hereby warned that explosives or ammunition etc. may be found along the Teesta Basin. These ammunitions should not be handled or picked up since they may explode and cause grievous injuries. On sight of such devices, it may be brought to the notice of the District Collectors or the State Emergency Operations Centre."