At least 17 defence personnel including two officers were killed and 19 others were injured in explosions triggered by an overnight fire in one of India’s biggest ammunition depot in Maharashtra’s Wardha district, officials said on Tuesday.
Television footage showed massive flames lighting up the night sky at Pulgaon where the central ammunition depot is located. Pulgaon is around 110 km from Nagpur.
Eyewitnesses said there were multiple explosions after the blaze caused by yet-to-be- ascertained reasons at around 1.30 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones.
The dead and injured jawans belong to the Defence Security Corp (DSC) that guards strategic defence installations.
“The main fire at one of the sheds has been extinguished. The situation is being stabilised,” an Army officer said. He, however, did not rule out “secondary fire and (more) explosions”.
AFP quoted the Wardha superintendent of police Smita Patil as saying that the nineteen jawans injured are out of danger.
Hundreds of families living nearby have been evacuated from around the depot.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to visit the depot later today. The government also ordered a probe into the incident.
Firefighters using ten fire engines worked through the night to contain the blaze, Ramesh Barde, a fire officer with the Nagpur fire department, told AFP.
“The fire was brought under control by 6.15 am. The situation is under control and a report is being prepared,” he added, speaking from the scene.
Source: Hindustan Times
