Major fire in Arms depot, scores missing, people rescued in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 11 (UNI) Scores of Army and fire service personnel were reported missing after a major fire broke out in an arms and ammunition depot in south Kashmir today.

Loud explosions were heard from the site and people in the radius of five km area have been directed to leave their homes and take shelter in safer places.

A defence ministry spokesman confirmed that the fire broke out in a building in Khandroo camp where arms and ammunition were stored.

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

A fire service spokesman told UNI that about a dozen fire tenders were rushed to the area from different parts of south Kashmir.

Two of our men received injuries and were hospitalised, he said adding three other jawans were missing.

A resident told UNI over phone that repeated announcements were being made by the Army to leave the area because of heavy explosions, which reverberated in the ten km area.

He said some security force personnel in the two km area also were seen leaving for safer places.

Official sources said a number of civilians were also reportedly injured after they were hit by flying stones and other objects.

Scores of army personnel are reported missing, they said.

About ten senior army officers were killed in a similar accidental fire in a building in which arms and ammunition, recovered during the counter insurgency operations, were kept in the nineties.

UNI