80-year-old World War II bomb defused by Army in Bengal’s Birbhum district

Kolkata: A live World War II-era bomb discovered near the Ajay River in Laudaha village, Birbhum district, was safely defused by Army personnel on Wednesday, triggering tremors that were felt across nearby settlements.

The explosive, believed to be over 80 years old, was found on the riverbank under Bolpur police station limits, close to Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. Local fishermen had first spotted a cylindrical metal object nearly a month ago but initially dismissed it as harmless. The matter was eventually reported to the police, prompting a swift response.

Authorities cordoned off the area and warned residents to stay away. After initial inspections, Army officials, supported by Central forces, carried out a controlled detonation to neutralise the device. The blast was powerful enough to cause mild tremors in surrounding villages, though no injuries or damage were reported.

“There was panic in the area since the bomb was discovered. We had cordoned off the area for the safety of others. The situation has now improved after the bomb was neutralised,” said a senior Birbhum district police officer on Thursday.

The origin of the bomb remains unclear, raising questions about how such an old and dangerous device remained undetected for decades. The incident has reignited concerns about wartime remnants still buried across parts of eastern India.

This is not the first such discovery in West Bengal. Last year, a similar World War II-era bomb was unearthed during excavation work in Bhulanpur village, Jhargram district. The area, once home to a wartime airstrip, was reportedly used by fighter planes that occasionally jettisoned bombs to reduce weight before landing. That device too was successfully defused after the area was sealed off and bomb disposal teams were deployed.