India’s security forces have successfully dismantled a massive terror plot that could have resulted in one of the deadliest attacks in human history. The operation uncovered plans for 32 car bombs, packed with a staggering 3,200 kilograms of high-grade explosives, targeting multiple locations. This sophisticated “white-collar” terror network aimed to inflict unimaginable devastation upon the nation.
Intelligence agencies uncovered a sinister conspiracy involving a significant cache of explosives, estimated at 3,200 kilograms, sufficient to cause widespread destruction. Thirty-two vehicles were prepared to be used as devastating mobile bombs, each reportedly carrying around 100 kilograms of ammonium nitrate. The sheer scale of the prepared arsenal highlights the calculated and chilling nature of the plot.
Experts have calculated the terrifying potential impact of such an attack. Detonating 3,200 kilograms of ammonium nitrate would create an explosion equivalent to 2.5 tons of TNT. This would obliterate everything within a 50-meter radius, cause immediate fatalities from shockwaves, and lead to widespread structural collapse up to 150 meters away. The blast radius would extend significantly, with windows shattering up to 400 meters and tremors felt nearly a kilometer away.
Historical context provides a grim perspective on the averted disaster. The 1,800 kg of explosives used in the Oklahoma City Bombing killed 168 people. The 1993 Mumbai bombings, with 1,500 kg, resulted in 257 deaths. This plot, utilizing double the explosives, had the potential to cause a death toll exceeding 500 and thousands of injuries, making it the most catastrophic terror event ever recorded.
While the immediate threat has been neutralized, ongoing investigations are critical. A portion of the explosives, approximately 300 kilograms, has not yet been recovered. Moreover, the whereabouts of 29 of the 32 intended vehicles remain unknown. These missing components represent potential lingering threats that necessitate continued vigilance and pursuit by security agencies to ensure complete eradication of the terror network and prevent future atrocities.