6 Indian border guards injured during firing practice exercise

At least six Indian border guards were injured Tuesday in an explosion during a firing practice exercise in the western state of Rajasthan near the border with Pakistan, officials said.

"The mishap happened when a 51 mm mortar failed to hit its target at the firing range of the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) near the India-Pakistan border in Kishangarh and exploded before the designated place," a senior BSF official said on condition of anonymity.

Six BSF personnel sustained injuries in the explosion and were airlifted to a hospital in the neighboring town of Jodhpur, where the condition of two were said to be serious, the official said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, he added.

This is not the first time that such an incident took place in the same area.

In March this year, four BSF personnel were injured during mortar firing practice in Kishangarh in the state of Rajasthan.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)