Following India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, social media platforms have been abuzz with speculation about a potential nuclear radiation leak in Pakistan’s Kirana Hills region, located near Sargodha. Despite widespread rumours, neither India nor Pakistan has confirmed any radiation-related crisis. Yet, the alleged deployment of a US radiation monitoring aircraft has fueled global curiosity.
No Confirmed Nuclear Emergency, Say Authorities
As of May 13, 2025, there have been no verified medical emergencies or official warnings indicating radiation exposure in Pakistan. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also strongly denied targeting the nuclear-sensitive Kirana Hills during its strikes.
Air Marshal AK Bharti clarified, “We have not hit Kirana Hills — whatever is there.” India maintains its airstrikes were aimed solely at terror infrastructure and legitimate military targets, not nuclear sites.
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“We’ve not hit Kirana hills, whatever is there” – DGMO IAF.
Plausible deniability. Bruh…? pic.twitter.com/7VAX7Z5Ewr
— Stoic Coder (@stoic_coder11) May 12, 2025
Kirana Hills: Pakistan’s Strategic Military Zone
Kirana Hills, situated in Sargodha district, is believed to house critical underground infrastructure, possibly for nuclear warhead storage. With over a dozen fortified tunnels and close proximity to key military sites like Sargodha Air Base (20 km) and the Khushab nuclear complex (75 km), the area holds immense strategic value for Pakistan’s defense posture.
The Leak Rumour: How It All Started
Speculation began after reports suggested India’s airstrikes occurred near Sargodha, sparking assumptions that Kirana Hills might have been affected. These claims were amplified by social media chatter and unverified sightings of US and Egyptian aircraft over Pakistani airspace.
One aircraft in particular, the Beechcraft B350 AMS, drew significant attention. Known for its role in the Aerial Measuring System (AMS), it belongs to the US Department of Energy and is built for high-precision nuclear radiation detection and fallout mapping.
US Radiation Aircraft Adds Fuel to Fire
The B350 AMS aircraft is not a regular military or commercial plane. Equipped with gamma ray sensors, real-time data transmission systems, and advanced geographic mapping tools, it can fly at low altitudes and slow speeds to detect radiation leaks and monitor affected zones. The aircraft has previously been deployed in post-nuclear event scenarios, including Fukushima, and during US nuclear tests.
Though no official confirmation has been issued by US authorities, open-source flight data from platforms like Flightradar24 showed a B350 AMS variant with tail number N111SZ briefly appearing in Pakistani airspace.
Interestingly, this tail number reportedly matches a US-origin aircraft transferred to Pakistan’s Army Aviation in 2010. This led analysts to speculate that either Pakistan deployed the aircraft on its own, or the US and Pakistan coordinated its use to assess possible radiation fallout.
What This Means: Real Threat or Overreaction?
If the Beechcraft B350 AMS was indeed activated by Pakistan, it could indicate internal concern about radiation safety, even without an official nuclear event. The mere presence of such an aircraft, in the aftermath of India’s strikes near a nuclear-sensitive zone, has raised global eyebrows.
While some experts argue that such monitoring could be precautionary, others see it as possible indirect confirmation that sensitive infrastructure may have been impacted—if not directly hit.
Still, until international bodies like the IAEA or official Pakistani agencies issue a statement, the reality remains unclear. What’s certain is that Operation Sindoor, combined with the aircraft’s appearance, has shifted the focus of global strategic observers towards Pakistan’s nuclear assets and India’s evolving strike doctrines.
