Initial high level inquiries revealed that the mine laying operations were carried out in adverse climatic and terrain conditions like night laying, dense fog etc. Due to such constraints certain accidents could possible be ascribed to human error. In certain cases, mines and fuzes held in inventory for a long period, did not perform satisfactorily.

    The Government have initiated steps to ensure that new mines and fuzes are introduced to replace the old inventories.

    This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Shri Shankar Prasad Jaiswal and Shri Ramjee Manjhi in Lok Sabha today.