7-year-old dies & 5 left injured after mortar shell exploded in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri

Kolkata, Oct 6: A seven-year-old child died and five others were injured after a mortar shell exploded in the Chhapadanga area of Jalpaiguri district, police said. The incident took place barely hours after the Sikkim government issued an advisory urging people not to pick up any explosives or ammunition found in the Teesta basin.

 

 

 

 

According to police, the shell exploded at Chhapadanga in the Kranti block of Jalpaiguri district on Thursday evening. The deceased was identified as 7-year-old Sahinur Alam. Sharing details of the incident, a police officer said, "A few children had gone to collect firewood near the Teesta River when they came upon a mortar shell floating in the waters. They picked it up and brought it home. It is believed that the shell belonged to the Indian Army and got swept away by the river after the cloudburst on Wednesday night."

 

 

 

 

 

"The five injured persons in the incident were shifted to the Jalpaiguri Hospital and North Bengal Hospital where they are currently undergoing treatment," the officer informed. Further details are awaited. The Sikkim government had earlier warned people that explosives and ammunition may be found along the banks of the Teesta River after an ammunition depot of the army in north Sikkim was affected by the flash floods.

 

 

 

"The local population is hereby warned that explosives or ammunition may be found along the Teesta basin. These ammunitions should not be handled or picked up since they may explode and cause grievous injuries," read an advisory issued by the state land revenue and disaster management department on Thursday.

 

 

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