Donot collect scrap of exploded shells, Army to villagers in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 5 (UNI) Concerned over the reports that some villagers were collecting scattered explosive material in 15 villages affected by the August 11 fire and subsequent blasts in the 21 Field Ordinance Depot in south Kashmir, the Army has sounded fresh warnings.

The practice to collect the scrap of exploded or unexploded shells is very dangerous as these can go off and could result in death or making a person handicapped, a defence ministry spokesman has said.

Appealing to villagers of these affected villages around the ammunition depot at Khandroo, the spokesman again cautioned that villagers must not touch or lift unidentified metal and should immediately inform the nearest Army or Police post to avoid any tragedy.

Despite warnings by army, police and civil authorities, villagers have been collecting scattered explosive materials to be sold as scrap for monetary gains, he said adding that it could be dangerous for life and property.

He said the Army and Jammu and Kashmir police carried out joint operations and recovered 600 kg explosive scrap and two live shells of 105 mm at Khandroo.

Describing the killing of villagers and injuries to six others on Monday as very unfortunate, he said the incident occurred after one of the scrap, collected by them, exploded in the compound of their house.

It was also learnt that the individual and two other villagers were employees in the ammunition depot and had collected the explosive scrap.

Thousands of families in 15 villages had to migrate to safer places after a major fire followed by several explosions for about 48 hours damaged 40 per cent of the one of the biggest ammunition depots in North India on August 11, killing 22 people, including an Army Major and 15 firefighters.

Army authorities pressed into service more than 100 Bomb Diposal Squads (BDS), airlifted from different commands, to clear the unexploded shells from the affected villages.

The authorities have recently declared that the affected villages were cleared of all unexploded shells and allowed villagers to return to their homes with the warning that they should inform police or army about any scrap or object in their area.

The BDS have now started detecting and defusing unexploded shells from the fields and orchards in these affected villages.

UNI