A house in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district was damaged on Friday after an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet accidentally released a non-explosive aerial store during a training exercise. The incident occurred in the Thakur Baba Colony of Pichhore area, where the heavy object crashed through the roof and gate of a residential property, creating a 10-foot-deep crater. Fortunately, the family living in the house escaped unharmed.
Locals reported hearing a loud noise followed by a massive dust cloud when the object struck. The impact caused significant structural damage to the house belonging to Manoj Sagar, though he and his family members, who were present at the time, emerged without injuries. Eyewitnesses described the moment as terrifying, with the force of the impact shaking nearby buildings.
The IAF later acknowledged the incident through an official statement on social media, expressing regret for the damage caused. "The IAF regrets the damage caused today to property on ground, near Shivpuri, by the inadvertent drop of a non-explosive aerial store from an IAF aircraft, and has instituted an inquiry into the incident," the statement read. Authorities confirmed that the dropped object posed no explosive risk to the area.
The incident reportedly occurred amid ongoing IAF training exercises in the region, which have intensified following recent tensions between India and Pakistan. An investigation has been launched to determine how the payload was accidentally released during the routine operation. Local officials and IAF representatives are currently assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating with the affected family.
This incident has raised concerns about safety protocols during military training exercises near populated areas. While the IAF has assured a thorough probe, residents in the vicinity remain shaken by the close call. The Sagar family, though relieved to be unharmed, now faces the challenge of repairing their badly damaged home.
