Court of inquiry ordered into arms depot fire

Srinagar, Aug 12: Defence authorities have ordered a court of inquiry into the devastating fire at the 21 Field Ordinance Depot at Khandroo in which ammunition worth millions of rupees was destroyed. A defence ministry spokesman said the inquiry has been ordered into the incident to ascertain the cause of the fire.

The investigation will be taken up only after the fire is extinguished and situation become normal, he said.

However, he ruled out any sabotage or militant hand in the incident.

Two militant outfits, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) had claimed responsibility for the fire in the depot.

Defence sources said thousands of bombs, rockets and other explosives were destroyed in the fire, which is raging since 0900 hours yesterday.

The loss would be millions of rupees as it was the main ammunition depot in Kashmir, they said.

They said ammunition and explosives for Bofors howitzers and other weapons were supplied from the same depot to push back the Pakistani intruders from the heights of Kargil and Drass in 1999.

This is the main depot of the Army from where ammunition and explosives are later being supplied to different depots in the forward areas, including Uri, Kargil, Leh, Karnah, Keran and other locations.

UNI