Major fire at ammunition depot

By Pranab Dhal Samanta

BHARATPUR (Rajasthan), APRIL 28. A major fire broke out in one of the largest and oldest ammunition depots in the western sector, housing ammunition for the Bofors gun and other sophisticated defence equipment, here this afternoon sending panic waves among the people as clouds of thick smoke engulfed after a huge explosion.

Located about 7 km from Bharatpur in Kanjoli village and better known as Kanjoli Line, the ammunition depot is said to be crucial as it stores a variety of artillery, tank and air defence missiles, infantry combat vehicles as well as ammunition.

Among the missiles here are Igla missiles, SAM-6 and SAM-7 as well as anti-guided missiles fired by the infantry combat vehicles. It has ammunition for the 155-mm Bofors gun as well as 130-mm, 122-mm and 105-mm guns. Most of the ammunition is not meant for training purposes but for operational purposes at wartime.

The depot has one of largest and most modern airconditioned storage facilities for air defence missiles. It primarily stores ammunition for the Army's Southern Command and Central Command forces including the strike force.

According to sources, a special team headed by the Director- General (Ordinance), Lieutenant-General S.K. Bhatnagar, arrived here about two hours after the incident and made an urgent assessment of the situation.

Though authorities maintained that no casualties had occurred so far, the fire was yet to be brought under control. It is also understood that construction work was under way inside the depot and many labourers had been frequenting the place. However, the cause of fire was yet to be ascertained.

Spread over 300 to 400 acres, the depot has more than 2,000 tonnes of ammunition stored in it. While fire-fighting was going on till late night, the exact damage was not yet known. Fire- fighting units have been rushed in from the nearby Mathura Oil Refinery and Agra along with a team of experts to bring the fire under control.

A thick cloud of smoke has covered the entire city and people have begun to leave their homes. The police have been announcing over the public address system that the fire has been brought under control and there is no need to fear but residents have been paying no heed to this and are vacating their homes.

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