Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 10

Two soldiers were killed in an accidental explosion at a forward Army post near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident occurred at Baz Post in the Kamalkote area of Uri sector, close to the LoC, officials said.

According to Army officials, the explosion took place during the handling of weapons by a patrol team that had returned to the post in the early hours of the day.

Two soldiers sustained critical injuries in the blast and were evacuated to the Army’s Base Hospital in Srinagar, where they later succumbed to their injuries despite medical efforts, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Sowar Chavan Vikram Balkrishna and Sapper Jadhav Arjun Rajendra, both natives of Maharashtra.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated, officials said.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to the soldiers and expressed condolences to their families.

“I salute the supreme sacrifice of our Bravehearts, Sowar Chavan Vikram Balkrishna and Sapper Jadhav Arjun Rajendra. The nation shall remain forever grateful to their selfless devotion to duty,” Sinha said in a statement.

The Army’s Chinar Corps also paid tribute to the two soldiers.

“Their unwavering courage, devotion and selfless service will continue to inspire generations,” the Corps said in a statement, adding that it stood with the bereaved families.

The Line of Control, a heavily militarised de facto border between India and Pakistan, stretches across several districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora in Kashmir, and Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region.

Security along the LoC is maintained by the Army, while the Border Security Force guards the International Border. Both forces remain engaged in counter-infiltration and border-security operations.