'Accidental missile launch': Our armed forces are well-trained, Defence Minister tells Parliament
"I can assure the House that the missile system is very reliable and safe," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells Parliament
FollowThe Indian government has taken the accidental missile launch very seriously. Following the incident, SOPs are being reviewed with regard to the maintenance of missiles, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Making a statement, Rajnath said, "I can assure the House that the missile system is very reliable and safe. Moreover, our safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order and are reviewed from time to time. Our armed forces are well-trained and disciplined & are well experienced in handling such systems."
Stating that the government has taken serious note of the incident, a formal high-level inquiry has been ordered, Rajnath said that the inquiry would determine the exact cause of the said accident. He further said that a review of the Standard Operating Procedures for operations, maintenance and inspections is being conducted in the wake of this incident: RM
We attach highest priority to safety and security of our weapon systems. If any shortcoming is found, the same would be immediately rectified: RM
India on Friday said the missile was fired accidentally because of a “technical malfunction”. It added it has taken a strong view of the incident and ordered a high-level court of inquiry. Pakistan on Thursday last registered a protest over the “unprovoked violation of its airspace by a supersonic flying object of Indian origin”.
“On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident,” a statement by the Defency Ministry read.
Pakistani government conveyed strong protests over the alleged unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian-origin “supersonic flying object”, which entered into Pakistan from Suratgarh in India at 6:43 pm (local Pakistan time), could have led to a serious aviation disaster.
