Fire in arms depot will not affect our preparedness, it is accident

Srinagar, Aug 13 (UNI) Ruling out any sabotage in ammunition depot fire in south Kashmir, defence authorities in Jammu and Kashmir said the damage would not affect the preparedness of the force.

The present damage to the 21 Field Ordnance depot at Khandroo, about ten km from Anantnag, would not cause any dent on our operational preparedness.

The spokesman was reacting to media reports that a large size of ammunition depot and ammunition stores were destroyed in the fire.

He said that a multi-layered system of storage of ammunition exists within the Army with adequate redundancies.

He said a court of inquiry has already been ordered to probe the circumstances of fire in the depot.

Categorically ruling out any militant action or sabotage, the spokesman said accidental fire is the most likely cause of the accident. However, he said subsequent enquiries will determine the exact cause of the blaze and added that our full proof safety measures within the ammunition depot and the physical sanitization of the area around preclude the possibility of any such action.

Therefore, the statements made by some militant outfits claiming responsibility for the fire in the depot was an attempt self aggrandizement and publicity-stunt.

Two militant outfits-- Hizbul Mujahideen and Jamait-ul-Mujahideen -- have claimed responsibility for the fire, saying they fired rockets and missiles towards the depot.

UNI