40 years ago September 16, 1986: Seoul on high alert

On September 16, 1986, Seoul entered a state of heightened alert as the government prepared for potential terrorist activity following a bomb blast at the airport. President Chun Doo-Hwan personally toured the aftermath at Gimpo (International) Airport's arrival terminal. In Srinagar, a clash erupted between students and police during a procession demanding "justice" over the allocation of engineering college seats.

The conflict began when students of the Regional Engineering College boycotted classes, alleging insufficient representation for the majority community. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, floods and heavy rains resulted in 17 deaths. Twelve individuals were killed in the Rae Bareli district, while a family of five perished while bathing in the overflowing Sarayu river in Ayodhya.

The United States cautioned smaller nations against adopting protectionist measures in response to industrialized countries imposing trade restrictions, warning that such actions could inflict significant damage on their economies.