Soldier killed while defusing shell in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 18 (UNI) An Army personnal was killed and two others injured when an unexploded shell went off in a village, adjacent to 21 Field Ordinance Depot at Khandroo which was destroyed in a devastating fire on August 11.

With this, a total of 21 people, including a Major and 15 fire fighters were killed and 30 others wounded in the incident.

A police spokesperson said a team of Army personnel was busy defusing the unexploded shells in village Samborna, Achabal, adjacent to Khandoor depot in south Kashmir, when a shell went off.

A soldier was killed and two others injured, he said.

In another incident, four civilians were injured when an unexploded shell went off in village Nowgam in on August 16.

The devastating fire followed by thousands of explosions destroyed 40 per cent of the depot barracks on Saturday last.

About 400 to 500 Army personnel, including more than 100 Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) members, airlifted from different sectors, are busy defusing hundreds of unexploded shells in about half a dozen villages around the depot.

UNI