‘PIA’-Marked Balloon Found In Himachal Pradesh, Third Incident In 5 Months

This is the second such incident reported in a single day, with another suspicious balloon, believed to be of Pakistani origin, discovered in the Arnia sector of Jammu district.

An image of a similar balloon found earlier in Jammu and Kashmir (Picture used for representation)

A suspicious “airplane-shaped balloon” resembling an aircraft with an inscription “Pakistan International Airlines” was found in agricultural fields in Himachal Pradesh’s Jhanduta subdivision on Saturday, creating concern among local residents.

Locals noticed the balloon lying in the fields under Baloh gram panchayat during the morning hours. The object quickly drew attention due to markings that read “Pakistan International Airlines”, raising suspicion among residents.

According to local resident Rajkumar, people working nearby were the first to spot the object. Sensing something unusual, they promptly informed authorities.

“People working in the fields under Baloh gram panchayat in Jhanduta subdivision noticed the suspicious balloon on Saturday morning,” he said.

Acting swiftly on the information, a team from the Talai police station reached the location. The object was secured and taken into custody for further examination.

Another resident, Rajesh Gautam, also described what he saw. “He described the suspicious object as an airplane-shaped balloon, on which the words ‘Pakistan International Airlines’ were clearly visible.” Gautam urged officials to thoroughly investigate the matter to rule out any security concerns.

Officials have not yet confirmed the origin or purpose of the balloon. However, such incidents are not entirely new to the region.

In a yet similar incident, a suspicious balloon believed to be of Pakistani origin was discovered in the Arnia sector of Jammu district on Saturday, prompting a swift response from security agencies.

The object was spotted in the Garore Nala area near Sardari Ground, creating concern among locals and alerting authorities. Soon after receiving information, security personnel rushed to the site and secured the area.

A similar balloon was found on the roof of a house in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district in December. In another incident in March, a balloon bearing markings seemingly linked to Pakistan was spotted in fields in Himachal’s Sirmaur district on a Sunday.

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