No dangerous payload in balloon shot down by IAF jet

JAIPUR: No dangerous payload has been found in the balloon shot down yesterday by an IAF fighter jet near Barmer, bordering Pakistan, according to defence officials.

"On the analysis of the debris, it was established that there was no dangerous payload," defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said today.

Sources said that it was a private balloon and the possibility of it carrying any spying object is initially ruled out.

The IAF radar had picked up the unidentified balloon like object moving easterly in Jaisalmer area, sending the authorities into a tizzy.

A fighter jet intercepted the object which was found to be balloon of about three meters diameter.

"Due to heightened security alert, the balloon was shot down," Ojha said.