A wave of fear has once again swept through residents of Bahragora in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand after an Army-led drone reconnaissance on Monday indicated the presence of yet another bomb.
This comes shortly after the earlier recovery of a 500-pound US-origin explosive on March 17, raising concerns among locals that several more such devices—possibly up to eight—could still be buried beneath the ground.
In the wake of the latest development, the Indian Army has assumed complete control of the affected zone. Sources said that the Army’s Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reached the Panipada–Nagudsai stretch equipped with modern technology and conducted an extensive drone survey to map the area from above.
The aerial scan reportedly revealed strong signs of another bomb, believed to be inactive at present. The previously recovered device has been identified as a US-manufactured aerial bomb bearing the marking ‘AN-M64 500 lb’.
Despite being decades old, experts caution that the bomb may still contain live explosive material, making it highly dangerous. As a precautionary step, authorities have sealed off a two-kilometre radius around the site, designating it as a restricted ‘No-Go Zone’.
Police personnel have also been deployed to prevent any civilian movement in the vicinity.
The delay in securing the site—nearly six days after the first bomb was found—has sparked public concern. However, since the Army stepped in, strict safety measures are now being enforced.
Sources further revealed that senior Army officials are awaiting instructions from higher authorities regarding the safe removal and defusal of the explosives. Specialists have warned that the process is extremely sensitive, as even minor disturbances could trigger a reaction within the ageing device.
A defence expert noted that while one such discovery could be incidental, the confirmation of a second bomb—and the likelihood of more—points to the area potentially being a hotspot for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).
Residents continue to express apprehension, claiming that several more bombs may be hidden beneath the sandy riverbank. Although there is no official verification, experts suggest these explosives could date back to the time of the Second World War.
Given the region’s strategic relevance during that period, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of further discoveries. Investigative agencies are also probing how these bombs came to be buried here and the duration for which they remained undetected.
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