Ranchi, Mar 24: A fresh suspected US-made bomb has been detected on a riverbank in Bahragora following a drone survey by the Indian Army, triggering panic among residents and raising fears of more unexploded ordnance in the area.
The latest discovery comes days after a 500-pound US-origin aerial bomb (AN-M64) was recovered from the same region on March 17. Officials said the Army’s Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) conducted drone reconnaissance, aerial mapping, and ground searches using metal detectors, which indicated the presence of another explosive device.
“Fresh bomb suspected… after Army drone scan; area sealed amid fears of more WWII-era unexploded ordnance,” sources said.
Following the development, the Army has taken complete control of the site and sealed a two-kilometre radius, declaring it a ‘No-Go Zone’. Police personnel have been deployed to prevent civilian movement, and strict safety measures are now being enforced.
The delay of nearly six days in securing the site after the first recovery has drawn public concern. “The delay in securing the site… has sparked public concern,” officials noted.
Experts cautioned that although the newly detected bomb is believed to be inactive, it may still contain live explosive material. “Despite being decades old, the bomb may still contain live explosive material,” an expert said, adding that “even minor disturbances could trigger a reaction within the ageing device.”
The explosives are suspected to date back to World War II, and defence experts have warned that the area could be a potential hotspot for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).
“The confirmation of a second bomb… points to the area potentially being a hotspot for UXO,” a defence expert said.
