Jamshedpur/Ranchi: In a high-stakes operation, the Indian Army on Wednesday safely defused two massive 227-kg aerial bombs recovered from the banks of the Subarnarekha river in Jharkhand’s Baharagora block, averting a potential catastrophe.

The explosives, identified as US-made ‘AN-M64 500 lb’ aerial bombs, were discovered in two phases—first on March 17 and later on March 23—from nearby locations along the riverbed, raising serious security concerns in the region.

A specialised Bomb Disposal Squad from the Army’s 51 Engineer Regiment, based in Ranchi, led the operation. The team, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Dharmendra Singh and Captain Ayush Kumar Singh, executed a carefully planned and technically complex neutralisation process.

Officials said the squad conducted a detailed assessment of the bomb’s positioning, surrounding terrain, and river dynamics before initiating the defusal. A deep pit—around 10 feet—was excavated to contain any potential blast impact. The device was then placed inside, secured with layers of sand-filled gunny bags to minimise shockwaves.

The Army established a control point nearly one kilometre away, while authorities enforced a complete lockdown of the surrounding area. Villages within a one-kilometre radius were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and civilian movement was strictly prohibited.

In an extraordinary precaution reflecting the scale of the threat, flight operations from the nearby Kalaikunda Air Force Station were temporarily halted, indicating the seriousness of the situation and the risk posed by the unexploded ordnance.

Following hours of meticulous work, both bombs were successfully defused without any casualties or damage. Residents, who had been evacuated during the operation, later returned and expressed gratitude to the Army personnel for preventing a major disaster.

While there has been no official confirmation regarding the origin of the bombs, defence experts suggest they could be remnants from the Second World War—when eastern India, including areas around present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal, saw military activity linked to Allied operations.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the bombs remained buried for decades and whether more such unexploded ordnance could be present in the area.