Several landmines explode in forest fire on LoC

JAMMU: Over a dozen landmine explosions took place along the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier Poonch district after a massive forest fire that started from the Pakistani side reached India.

A forest fire that started from the other side of LoC on Friday spread to Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district yesterday, resulting in the explosion of over a dozen landmines, a police officer said.

The fire covered an area of about three square kilometers, he said.

The army and the forest department launched an operation and contained the fire yesterday, he added.