Date:19/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/19/stories/2003021904621100.htm

National

`De-mining in progress'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 18. The Defence Ministry today said its operations to de-mine the areas where mines had been laid during `Operation Parakram' was in progress after a brief halt between February 5 and 13 to take mid-course stock of the operations.

It said the personnel carrying out the operations had suffered four fatal and ten serious injuries. There were three civilian casualties, an official release said. The Defence Ministry was taking all necessary measures to augment the existing resources for de-mining.

The procurement of de-mining sets was in the final stages. "The state-of-the-art de-mining equipment and boots anti-mine are being procured from abroad and are being flown in to hasten induction and facilitate expeditious conclusion of the de-mining process."