Jammu, August 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A soldier was killed after his service rifle accidentally went off during operational duty in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, officials said on Monday.
The incident took place on Sunday in the forward Jogwan area of Khour, an official said.
“Preliminary information suggests that the weapon of the soldier went off accidentally, causing critical injuries to him. He was immediately provided medical assistance but succumbed,” the official said.
The soldier’s body was shifted to the Military Hospital, Akhnoor, for a post-mortem examination. It will be handed over to his family after completion of the required legal formalities, officials said.
The incident is the latest in a series of accidental fatalities involving military personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.
On June 9, two Army personnel were killed in an accidental grenade explosion during a routine equipment handover at a camp in the Uri sector. Earlier, on April 11, a soldier at the Sarna camp in Bhaderwah, Doda district, died after suffering injuries caused by the accidental discharge of his weapon while unloading the chamber.
Apart from weapon-related accidents, security personnel have also suffered casualties due to landmine explosions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
On July 29, two soldiers from the 8 Rashtriya Rifles — identified as Arjun Jadhav and Vikram Balakrishna — were killed in an accidental blast near Kamalkote. Separate patrolling incidents also left other personnel injured.
In border areas of Poonch and Rajouri, patrol teams operating in sectors such as Krishna Ghati have faced risks from landmines, including incidents where personnel inadvertently stepped on mines or encountered mines displaced by heavy rains, water runoff and landslides into previously unmarked areas.
The Army uses defensive minefields along sensitive stretches of the LoC as an anti-infiltration measure. However, such areas also present risks during routine area domination patrols.
Following such incidents, injured personnel are immediately evacuated to nearby military field or base hospitals. Police and military authorities conduct inquest proceedings and investigations to determine the exact circumstances behind accidental weapon discharges and other mishaps.
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