Army Jawan Killed in Pakistan Drone Attack at Udhampur Air Base

New Delhi: An army soldier was killed after being hit by a fragment from a Pakistani drone that was intercepted by Army Air Defence near the Udhampur air base in Jammu and Kashmir.

The slain soldier has been identified as Surendra Singh Moga, a resident of Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The drone, which was successfully brought down, still managed to cause damage during the interception process.Despite being neutralised, the drone caused fatal damage during the interception.

The attack took place within hours of the formal ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan on Saturday. Officials are viewing the incident as a serious breach of the ceasefire understanding, which was meant to halt hostilities on land, air, and sea.

Soon after the agreement, several drones were detected across key locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. These unmanned aerial vehicles were reportedly surveying Indian military establishments.

Indian defence forces responded quickly. In Kutch, Gujarat, three drones were shot down. Similar interceptions occurred in Srinagar and Baramulla, where air defence systems successfully brought down multiple UAVs.

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The coordinated drone intrusion also led to disruption in civilian areas. In Katra, Jammu, where the Vaishno Devi temple is located, the entire area plunged into darkness following the drone activity. Sirens blared in several parts of the region through the night, raising alarm among residents.

The incident raises serious concerns about the durability of the ceasefire agreement and indicates a potential escalation in cross-border tensions despite diplomatic efforts to stabilise the situation.