PORT BLAIR: A massive unexploded bomb was found at Mayabunder region of North Andaman on Friday, triggering large-scale curiosity among local residents.
The vintage bomb, as huge as an LPG cylinder, was found by construction workers of Mayabunder region, who were digging earth under a Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) project.
As soon as the matter was reported to the Mayabunder Police, the area was cordoned off and the bomb was brought to an open area and kept safely under close supervision of the Police Department.
“It seems like a World War II bomb. The bomb disposal team of Indian Army has already been informed about it. They will come and dispose off this bomb. Till that time no one will be allowed to go close to the bomb for safety reasons,” Ingit Pratap Singh, the Superintendent of Police, of North and Middle Andaman told TNIE on Friday.
He said that the Mayabunder Region has many Japanese bunkers, built during World War II and therefore it is possible that the rusted bomb is of that time.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands had witnessed several air raids from both British and Japanese Forces during World War II, before and during Japanese Occupation which was from 1942 to 1945.
On many occasions in the recent past such unexploded vintage World War II bombs were found in various corners of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The bomb is being disposed off by a team of marine commandos MARCOS.
MARCOS is a special operations unit of the Indian Navy which is trained to conduct highly specialised operations.
In 1942 during WWII, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were captured by the Japanese Forces but in 1945 these islands were again re-captured by British forces.
Bombs from the World War II era are frequently found in London, Germany and Japan.
Last month, schools and nearby homes were evacuated after a suspected Second World War bomb was discovered at a building site in London.
A huge cordon was put in place and roads were closed after the unexploded device was found near Brondesbury Park in Brent, north-west London. The army was called in to deal with the bomb while police and the fire service also remained on the scene while the bomb was detonated.