According to Indian media, the Indian Army misfired three missiles during an exercise in the Pokharan ranges in the western Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, causing concern in the adjacent areas.
The firing exercise was taking place on the Pokhran field when three surface-to-air missiles misfired.
The missiles struck fields in various villages, producing loud explosions, but no reports of casualties or property damage were made.
During the exercise, a technical malfunction was responsible for the misfire.
According to India Today, a spokesperson for the Indian military, Lt. Col. Amitabh Sharma, stated that an investigation has been initiated and appropriate action will be taken.
The story states that two misfired missiles have been found, but the third has not. Teams from the police and the military are currently searching for the AWOL missile.
According to the report, the Indian Army was conducting a firing exercise when three missiles with a range of 10 to 25 kilometers veered off course due to a technical error.
The misfired missile caused extensive damage to the field, leaving behind a large crater in its impact zone.
In August of last year, the Indian government fired three officers for firing a missile into Pakistan by accident. The two nuclear-armed rivals handled the incident calmly, as no one was injured.
The Indian Air Force said three officers’ deviation from Standard Operating Procedures caused the missile’s accidental flight.
The BrahMos missile, a nuclear-capable, land-attack cruise missile jointly developed by Russia and India, was launched on March 9. Prompting Pakistan to inquire about the safety mechanisms in place to prevent inadvertent launches from happening.
After the incident was reported, the Pakistan Foreign Office summoned the Indian envoy to protest the unprovoked violation of its airspace, stating that such “irresponsible incidents” demonstrated India’s “disregard for air safety and indifference to regional peace and stability.”
