Major tragedy averted on Kashmir Highway, IED defused

A major tragedy was today averted on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway when a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detected and defused in Qazigund area, official sources said here today.

They said a joint Road Opening Party (ROP) of Army and state police detected an IED planted by militants at Qazigund on the highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.

Traffic was stopped on the highway and those present in the area were shifted to safer place, they said, adding Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was summoned.

The IED was defused by the BDS without causing any damage, they said, adding the IED was planted to target security force convoy.

However, with the timely detection of the IED a major tragedy was averted.

(AGENCIES)