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1 civilian dead, 9 injured as unidentified aircraft crashes in village near Bathinda Air Force base

The plane allegedly crashed near Akali Khurd village, which is located just 20 km from the Bhisiana Air Force Station. The Army cordoned off the area, and Air Force personnel collected the debris.

Videos taken shortly after the crash and explosion have been circulating on social media. (Express Photo)

Akali Khurd, a village near Bathinda, was jolted awake by the sound of an explosion from an aircraft crash around 2 am Wednesday. A labourer from Haryana died and nine people sustained burn injuries following an explosion after the crash, villagers said.

The unidentified aircraft allegedly crashed in the fields near the village, which is located just 20 km from the Bhisiana Air Force Station in Bathinda. Soon, villagers rushed to the site.

Authorities are yet to comment on the development.

The Punjab Police were the first to be alerted regarding the incident, after which the fire brigade was called. Army and Air Force officials reached the spot before sunrise. The Army cordoned off the area, and the Air Force set up a canopy and began collecting the debris.

Villagers identified the deceased civilian as Govind from Hisar in Haryana, and said that he died while attempting to record a video. Nine other civilians were injured while trying to approach the crash site. They were taken to the government hospital in Bathinda’s Goniana town.

“Govind had come here for the wheat harvest and was living in a room near the crash site. He was among the first to reach the site. He started recording a video of the crash, but went too close to it. Suddenly, a blast occurred, which killed Govind on the spot. Several others were injured,” said a villager.

As dawn broke, more villagers began to reach the spot and police personnel were deployed to keep them away from the site.

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