A powerful explosion today shook a double-storeyed building at the air base where two terrorists are still holed up as the operations intensified to flush them out.

As the operation against the terrorists entered the third day, NSG, IAF and Army officers said there was no collateral damage to the strategic Air Force assets.

“Till now, we have eliminated four terrorists and the operation to eliminate two more terrorists, possibly is in the final stage of conduct,” Inspector-General NSG Maj General Dushant Singh told a press conference here.

Singh, who was flanked by Air officer Commanding, Air Commodore J S Damoon and Brigadier Anupinder Singh, said “the entire operation will continue till all the personnel, assets, structure are physically combed. So it is likely to take a long time.”

“These terrorists are holed up in a double-storeyed building, which is a living accommodation of the Air Force personnel, and currently operations are in progress to clear this building of terrorists,” Brigadier Singh said.

The area of the Air Force base is “very large” where strategic assets of IAF are kept, besides families of IAF personnel and schools are located in it.

“It is a mini city,” the IAF officer said.

He said the terrorists had come “well prepared” and are “heavily armed” with an aim to target the strategic assets of the Air Force.

The officers said the Army has been on general alert since January 1 following intelligence inputs of a terror strike.

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