1 BSF jawan dies, 3 injured during military training in Pokhran firing range

Jaipur: A mishap during a military exercise on Tuesday night in Pokaran firing range of Rajasthan claimed the life of a BSF jawan and left three others critically wounded, according to preliminary reports. Explosives fired from a 105 mm gun (cannon) exploded. The BSF has ordered an inquiry into the incident, sources said. This is the second mishap involving a 105 mm gun in Pokaran in the last week. A jawan was injured in the earlier mishap.

BSF is carrying out military exercise in the Indian army’s firing range at Pokaran. BSF has its own firing range at Kishangarh near the border. But as the 105 mm gun has a 17-kilometer range, the exercise was being conducted at Pokhran.

The mishap occurred on Tuesday night. The shell exploded as soon as it was fired from the cannon, leaving four BSF jawans injured. One of them – identified as Satish, a resident of Uttar Pradesh – died. Three other injured are undergoing treatment at an army hospital and their condition is stated to be out of danger.

Developed by the Armament Research and Development Institute, the gun has a 17-kilometer range which proves very helpful in preventing enemy attacks.

These guns can be used in hilly as well as desert areas. They can be easily loaded on helicopters for transportation due to their light weight.