Six of the nine missing Army personnel in depot fire safe

Srinagar, Aug 14 (UNI) Six of the nine soldiers, reported missing after a devastating fire broke out in the 21 Field Ordnance Depot in south Kashmir on Saturday, returned safely today, a defence spokesman said.

He said a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and two other soldiers are still missing.

Twenty five people, including a Major and firemen, went missing after fire and subsequent blasts in the depot.

Six soldiers survived the blasts and returned to camp today, he said.

The spokesman said that bodies of 15 people, including a Major, 13 firemen and an unidentified person were recovered last evening.

Two labourers working in the depot, two firemen and a woman were confirmed dead on August 12.

He said the last blast took place in the depot at 1940 hours last night.

A senior army officer said it would take about six months to bring complete normalcy in the depot.

UNI