New Delhi, August 21

An Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet “inadvertently” dropped its on-board ammunition near the Pokhran firing range area in Rajasthan on Wednesday.

It was “inert ammunition”, IAF sources said. It happened “due to technical malfunction”, the IAF said. The jet had taken off from an IAF base in Rajasthan.

An inquiry by the IAF has been ordered into the incident. No damage to life or property has been reported, the IAF said. The Pokhran firing ranges are in western Rajasthan and are barely 100 km from the border with Pakistan. These ranges are used for air exercises by the IAF when its pilots test out new equipment or newly inducted arsenal.