Jammu Air Force Station Blasts: 2 Injured Personnel To Remain Under Observation, Condition Stable

In India's first-ever suspected drone attack, two explosives crashed into the high-security Indian Air Force station at Jammu airport in the early hours of Sunday. Here are the latest updates.

Srinagar: In India’s first-ever suspected drone attack, two explosives crashed into the high-security Indian Air Force station at Jammu airport in the early hours of Sunday. Two IAF personnel were injured in the explosions that took place around 1.40 AM within six minutes of each other. The first blast ripped off the roof of a single-storey building at the technical area of the airport manned by the IAF in Satwari area of the city. The second one was on the ground, the officials said. The possibility of a terror attack has not been ruled out.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the flight path of the two drones. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s office said he spoke to Vice Air Chief, Air Marshal H S Arora, over the incident. Meanwhile, Jammu Airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria told PTI that there was no disruption in flight operations due to the explosions. “Flights to and from Jammu airport are operating as per schedule,” he said.

Here Are The Highlights:

9.00 PM: The two soldiers who suffered minor injuries in Sunday’s twin explosions at Jammu air base are doing fine now, news agency ANI reported quoting Indian Air Force officials.

8:10 PM: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria telephoned from Bangladesh to speak to 2 IAF personnel who suffered minor injuries in the drone explosions, earlier today in Jammu. The two soldiers are under observation and are doing fine, said IAF officials.

5:58 PM: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar today took a review meeting with BCAS, NSG, IAF, CRPF, BSF, CISF, Director Airport, DIG Central Kashmir Range and SSP Budgam to discuss the security situation at the Jammu Airport and countermeasures regarding the explosion.

4:45 PM: According to Zee News sources, the central government is preparing to hand over the investigation to National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Jammu and Kashmir Police is working on the case along with other agencies.

4:31 PM: It is being suspected that Pakistan-based terror outfits Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) could be behind the attack, intel reports gathered by News18 stated. These reports have not been confirmed by the Jammu Police yet.

4:25 PM: A crude bomb was found at a crowded area in Jammu soon after the suspected drone attack on the Air Force base took place in the city, reported NDTV. The IED was reportedly received by LeT outfit operative and was to be planted at some crowded place.

3:56 PM: An alert has been sounded in Punjab’s border district of Pathankot on Sunday after two explosives-laden drones crashed into the high-security Indian Air Force station at Jammu airport. Tight vigil is being maintained near key installations in Pathankot, officials said.  Five years ago, the Pathankot Air Force base had come under terror attack.

3:48 PM: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed about the developments. Singh spoke to Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal HS Arora taking stock of the incident, while Air Marshal Vikram Singh is at Jammu for investigations.

3:04 PM: “Major terror attack has been averted with this recovery. The suspect lifted being interrogated. More suspects likely to be picked up in this foiled IED blast attempt. Police also working on Jammu airfield blasts along with other agencies. FIR registered and probe on,” said J&K DGP.

2:53 PM: “Use of drone with payload in both the blasts at Jammu airfield suspected to drop explosive material. Another IED weighing 5-6 kgs was recovered by Jammu police. This IED was received by LeT outfit operative & was to be planted at some crowded place,” said Jamnu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh to ANI.

2:51 PM: The Indian Air Force is investigating the attack as what could the first-ever drone attack on an Indian military base.

2:45 PM: DIG CRPF reached the Air Force Station, Jammu earlier today. IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, who is in Bangladesh on official visit, is also constantly monitoring the situation. “Necessary instructions passed for probe into the matter. Western Air Commander Air Marshal VR Chaudhari is at Jammu Air Force Station,” said senior IAF officials.