Indian Air Force Missile Misfires, Explodes Near Jaisalmer Village During Training Exercise

An Indian Air Force missile missed its target and exploded near Bhadiariya village in Jaisalmer during a military exercise, according to Live Hindustan. The incident caused panic among villagers but no casualties were reported. Authorities are investigating technical faults in the missile system.

JAISALMER, November 9, 2025 — A missile fired by the Indian Air Force during a routine military exercise went off course and exploded near Bhadiariya village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, according to a report by Live Hindustan, a local Indian news outlet.

The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. on Saturday, caused panic among villagers after the missile landed just 500 meters short of its target at the Pokhran Field Firing Range. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the explosion was strong enough to be felt across nearby settlements.

“The missile fell approximately 500 meters from Bhadiariya village, whose population is about three thousand. The explosion’s shockwave reached nearby areas,” reported Live Hindustan, quoting local authorities and defense sources.

Indian military officials stated that the missile likely deviated from its intended trajectory due to a technical malfunction. Police and army personnel arrived swiftly, secured the area, and recovered the missile’s rear section from within the range, which was later transported back for investigation.

This latest mishap, however, is far from an isolated incident. It once again highlights India’s growing record of operational carelessness and systemic flaws in handling advanced weapon systems.

A Troubling Pattern of Indian Military Mishaps

India’s defense forces, particularly the Indian Air Force, have been under scrutiny in recent years for a series of alarming blunders including missile misfires, friendly fire incidents, and accidental crashes.

• March 2022: India “accidentally” fired a BrahMos cruise missile into Pakistani territory, triggering major diplomatic tensions. The incident was later dismissed by New Delhi as a “technical malfunction.”
• February 2019: During heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force mistakenly shot down its own Mi-17 helicopter over Budgam in Kashmir, killing six personnel. The tragedy was initially covered up and later confirmed as a “friendly fire” incident.
• August 2021: A Tejas fighter jet malfunctioned during a test flight in Tamil Nadu, raising questions about the reliability of India’s indigenous aircraft program.

These repeated “technical glitches” expose a worrying pattern of unprofessionalism, poor maintenance, and inadequate safety oversight across India’s defense testing framework.

Local Panic, Official Denial

Residents of Bhadiariya village described scenes of fear and confusion following the explosion. “The sound was terrifying. The ground shook, and for a moment, we thought something major had happened,” said one villager, speaking to local reporters.

While authorities insist there is “no danger to the public”, villagers remain uneasy. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the missile to deviate, but critics argue that India’s repeated technical lapses reflect deep rooted structural weaknesses in its defense management and accountability systems..