Major fire in Arms depot, 3 dead, 50 hurt in Kashmir

By Staff
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Srinagar, Aug 11: Two soldiers and a civilian were killed and about 50 others, including 12 Army and civil fire service personnel, were injured when a major fire broke out in an Army ammunition depot, triggering an explosion in south Kashmir today.

Militant outfit Jamait-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) has claimed responsibility for the fire.

A defence spokesman confirmed that the fire broke out at 0915 hrs in the 21 Field Ordnance Depot at Khandroo, about ten km from Anantnag, where arms and ammunition were stored. The fire caused ammunition stored in one or two sheds to catch fire.

He, however, ruled out any sabotage or militant hand in the fire.

He said according to information so far, two soldiers and a civilian were killed and 15 to 20 injured. One Army officer was critically injured, the spokesman added.

Firefighters of the Army had been pressed into service to minimise the collateral damage. The causes of the accident is being ascertained.

He said initial information received from one of the injured said the fire may have commenced from the highly combustible white phosphorous ammunition kept in one of the sheds.

A statement in the media about a rocket attack was baseless, he added.

A police spokesman confirmed that about 11 people, including four civilians, were injured while, at least 20,000 people from four villages were taken to safer places.

He said repeated announcements were being made through the public address system in mosques and police jeeps, requesting people to leave their homes.

Sources said big explosions could be heard in the ten km radius from the depot. They said about 50 persons were injured in the incident.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed concern over the incident and asked the civil administration and army authorities to ensure that the situation was brought under control soon and the evacuated population provided adequate shelter and food.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Mehboob Iqbal has advised people living within a 1.5 km of Field Ordnance Depot to stay indoors and not venture out of their homes in order to avoid splinter injuries.

He said the administration has also installed safety tents for the people at secure places.


UNI

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