Fire at Indian army ammunition depot claim lives of 17 soldiers
At least 17 soldiers have been killed in a massive fire at a large military ammunition depot in India’s western state of Maharashtra.
Indian officials said 19 people were also injured in the fire that broke out in the depot storing up tonnes of bombs, grenades and other ammunition outside the city of Pulgaon in Maharashtra early on Tuesday.
“Seventeen people have died. Nineteen are injured but are out of danger,” Smita Patil, said superintendent of Wardha district police, adding, “An operation is in progress and the fire has been brought under control.”
Local media say there are two officers among the dead.
Fears of secondary blasts at the depot prompted thousands of families living in neighboring towns and villages to evacuate from surrounding areas.
Investigation was underway to determine the reason behind the blaze; however, lax safety standards have led to several fires and other accidents in India’s military.
Commenting on the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter that he was “pained by loss of lives,” and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar was heading to the accident site while Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag was also set to visit it.
The depot was the latest military facility to be plagued by such accident after a fire aboard a nuclear submarine left two officers dead off the Mumbai coast in February 2014.
In August 2013, a submarine INS Sindhurakshak also burned in Mumbai, leaving 18 sailors dead.
In 2010, one of the Indian army’s largest ammunition depots also burst into flames in Kolkata, destroying 150 tonnes of explosives and ammunition. No one, however, was killed in the accident.
In 2007, at least 17 people were killed and two dozen injured in a fire in an ammunition dump in the northern region of Indian Kashmir.
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