Srinagar, Jul 12 (IANS): Alert troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Thursday averted a major tragedy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by timely detecting and defusing an improvised explosive device (IED), an official said.

"Troopers of 24 battalion detected an IED planted in a culvert on the Jammu-Srinagar highway Wednesday night," CRPF Inspector General (Operations) B.N. Ramesh told reporters here Thursday.

"The explosive device was defused around 12.10 a.m. Thursday with the help of a bomb disposal squad and a dog squad," he added.

Ramesh said the timely detection of the bomb averted a major tragedy on the National Highway No.1A.

Asked whether the target of the IED were the pilgrims on the annual Amarnath Yatra, the CRPF inspector general said: "I cannot say whether the IED had been planted to target the yatris or any other vehicle. Our duty is to ensure safety of everybody who is using the highway."