A recent incident in Pakistan has underscored the severe dangers faced by communities, particularly children, living in conflict-affected regions. Four students sustained injuries when a ‘toy bomb’ exploded within a private school in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, located in northwestern Pakistan.
According to school administrators, a fourth-grade student inadvertently brought the dangerous device, which he had mistaken for a toy, into his classroom on Friday (October 3). These ‘toy bombs’ are, in fact, abandoned mortar shells prevalent in areas like Khyber district, bordering Afghanistan, where unexploded ordnance is a grim reality.
The explosion occurred when the student accidentally dropped the device inside the classroom. Prompt action from local police ensured that the injured students were swiftly transported to a hospital in Peshawar for treatment, where they were later discharged.
In response to the incident, security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated a comprehensive search operation. The goal is to locate and safely defuse any other potential unexploded shells, preventing further casualties in the vulnerable region. Authorities have also launched a full investigation into the matter.
This is not an isolated event. Just last year, on December 27, four young boys lost their lives and two others were critically injured in Bajaur district, within the same province, when an old mortar shell exploded. Such tragedies are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat these devices pose, especially to children who often pick them up, unaware of their lethal nature. Many tribal areas along the Afghanistan border remain heavily mined, and unexploded explosive devices are frequently discovered in open fields, creating a constant peril for local residents.