Central teams to access loss due to depot fire

Srinagar, Aug 21: A four-member central team is arriving here tomorrow to assess the losses suffered due to devastating fire and subsequent blasts in the 21 Field Ordinance Depot at Khandroo, killing 21 people, damaging houses and crops and forcing thousands to migrate to safer places in South Kashmir on August 11.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad informed the Legislative Council that a team is arriving here today while another land here tomorrow.

Official sources said immediately after the incident occurred, Chief Miniter Ghulam Nabi Azad talked to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought an appointment to brief him on the incident.

The Chief Minister had an hour-long meeting with Dr Singh during which the fall-out of ammunition depot fire and how to deal with the situation remained in focus.

Mr Azad had requested the PM to send central team for making assessment of the losses and pay early compensation to the affected villagers.

However, Dr Sigh assured that the teams to assess the losses would be sent immediately after the area was safe for human movement. He had assured full support and compensation for the losses.

Replying in the Legislative Council today, Mr Azad said a central team was arriving today while another would come here tomorrow to assess the losses and have a meeting with the administration.

Mr Azad said 68 bomb disposal teams were flown in from various parts of the country to search and defuse live ammunition in the affected area.

He said that he talked with the Chief of the Army Staff today and urged him to send a special team to clear paddy fields of unexploded ammunition before the harvesting season.

Regarding rentals for the land being used by the army, the Chief Minister said that his government has already taken up with central government its enhancement and the latter had agreed.

The matter was raised during meetings with Defence Minister here as well as in Delhi. However, he said so far as annual rentals of land in Khundroo and adjoining villages were concerned, there was no outstanding payment up to April 2007.

UNI