NEW DELHI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- At least three persons have been injured after a fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed near an air base in the northern state of Rajasthan on Wednesday, a senior defense official said.
"The Sukhoi 30 (Su-30MKI) plane crashed in Devaniyon ki Dhani village near the Uttarlai Air Force Base in the state's Barmer district while it was on a routine sortie," he said.
"Though the two pilots managed to eject safely, three villagers sustained burn injuries as debris landed on their houses," he added.
The trio injured have been identified as Narayan Ram, his daughter-in-law Dalli and his grandson Hanuman.
The three have been admitted to a local hospital where all are said to be in stable conditions, a police official said.
According to the police official, nearly six houses have been destroyed by the crash and a buffalo was burnt alive after the debris of the fighter jet landed on the village.
"We are assessing the damage," he added.
The Indian Air Force has ordered investigation into the crash, the defense official said.
Su-30MKI is the mainstay and the most modern fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. India has contracted 272 Su-30MKIs from Russia of which over 230 have been inducted so far.
This is the seventh crash of a Su-30MKI aircraft since its induction in 1997.
The last crash of the fighter jet took place in May 2015 near Tezpur air base in the northeastern state of Assam.
Both pilots safely ejected in the crash which was caused by a technical defect.
