4 CRPF Personnel Injured in Accidental Blast During Explosives Disposal in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

Four Central Reserve Police Force personnel, including two Assistant Sub-Inspectors, were injured on Thursday evening, 8 October 2026, in an accidental explosion during the disposal of unserviceable and leftover explosives near the Elarmadgu security camp in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Two of the injured suffered serious injuries, while the other two were reported to have sustained minor wounds.

The incident took place near Bodrajpadar nullah, a stream about 200 metres from the Elarmadgu camp, which falls under Bhejji police station in the Konta range of Sukma district in the Bastar division. According to police, an Ammunition Technician Team from the CRPF’s 50th Battalion had travelled from Jagdalpur to inspect security camps at Pidmel, Dabbakonta, Kolaiguda and Elarmadgu, and to safely dispose of old and unused explosive material stored at those locations.

Police clarified that the blast was not a Maoist-triggered Improvised Explosive Device attack, but an accident that occurred while the team was carrying out a controlled disposal operation under prescribed safety procedures. Officials said a fragment or part of an explosive device was accidentally thrown out from the disposal site, landed nearby and detonated. Initial reports had suggested the possibility of an IED blast during an area search, but that version was later ruled out.

The injured personnel were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector M.K. Tiwari of the Ammunition Technician Team, who sustained serious injuries, Assistant Sub-Inspector Aneesh Khan of the 50th Battalion, also seriously injured, Inspector Amarnath Mishra of the Ammunition Technician Team, who suffered minor injuries, and Head Constable Kuldeep Raj of the 50th Battalion, who also sustained minor injuries.

All four were given first aid at the spot before being shifted to the Government Hospital in Konta. Officials arranged for the two seriously injured Assistant Sub-Inspectors to be moved to a higher medical facility for advanced treatment. Later reports said the injured personnel were taken from Konta to Bhadrachalam in neighbouring Telangana and then moved to Hyderabad for specialised care. In some accounts, one of the injured was reported to be in a critical condition.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar confirmed the accidental explosion during the disposal operation and said the injured had been provided immediate medical attention. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the news of the injuries was deeply saddening and added that appropriate treatment was being ensured for the personnel. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma also acknowledged the incident.

The episode stands out in a region where such incidents have become rare since Chhattisgarh was officially declared Maoist-free on 31 March 2026. Even so, residual explosives left behind from earlier periods of Maoist activity continue to pose risks during clearance and disposal work. In May 2026, four security personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard and Bastar Fighters were killed in a similar accidental IED blast during a de-mining and area domination operation along the Kanker–Narayanpur border.

The disposal of unserviceable and leftover explosives remains a routine but hazardous task for specialised CRPF technical teams operating in areas that were previously affected by left-wing extremism. An inquiry into the circumstances of the accidental detonation is expected.

Four CRPF personnel, including two Assistant Sub-Inspectors, were injured in an accidental explosion during the disposal of unserviceable and leftover explosives near the Elarmadgu security camp in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on the evening of Thursday, 8 October 2026. Two of the injured sustained serious injuries.

The incident occurred near Bodrajpadar nullah (stream), approximately 200 metres from the Elarmadgu camp under the jurisdiction of Bhejji police station in the Konta range of Sukma district (Bastar division). An Ammunition Technician Team (ATT) of the CRPF’s 50th Battalion had arrived from Jagdalpur to inspect security camps at Pidmel, Dabbakonta, Kolaiguda and Elarmadgu and to safely dispose of old, unserviceable and leftover explosives stored at these locations.

While the team was carrying out the disposal operation in accordance with prescribed safety protocols, a fragment or part of an explosive device was accidentally flung from the disposal site, landed nearby and detonated. Police clarified that this was not a Maoist-triggered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack but an accident during the controlled disposal of residual explosives. Initial reports had suggested a possible IED explosion during an area search, but this was subsequently ruled out.

The four injured CRPF personnel were identified as:

• Assistant Sub-Inspector M.K. Tiwari of the Ammunition Technician Team (serious injuries)
• Assistant Sub-Inspector Aneesh Khan of the 50th Battalion (serious injuries)
• Inspector Amarnath Mishra of the Ammunition Technician Team (minor injuries)
• Head Constable Kuldeep Raj of the 50th Battalion (minor injuries)

All four personnel were administered first aid at the site and shifted to the Government Hospital at Konta. Arrangements were made to transfer the two seriously injured ASIs to a higher medical facility for advanced treatment. Subsequent reports indicated that the injured personnel were moved from Konta to Bhadrachalam in neighbouring Telangana and subsequently to Hyderabad for specialised care. One personnel was reported to be in a critical condition in some accounts.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar confirmed the details of the accidental explosion during the disposal operation and stated that the injured had been provided immediate medical attention. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed concern over the incident, describing the news of the injuries as deeply saddening, and confirmed that appropriate treatment was being ensured for the injured personnel. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma also acknowledged the incident.

The episode marked a rare IED-related incident in the region since Chhattisgarh was officially declared ‘Maoist-free’ on 31 March 2026. Residual explosives left from earlier periods of Maoist activity continue to pose risks during clearance and disposal operations. In May 2026, four security personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard and Bastar Fighters were killed in a similar accidental IED blast during a de-mining and area domination operation along the Kanker–Narayanpur border.

The disposal of unserviceable and leftover explosives remains a routine but high-risk task for specialised CRPF technical teams in areas previously affected by left-wing extremism. An inquiry into the circumstances of the accidental detonation is expected.