Ordnance depot lab in Jabalpur gutted

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, AUG. 7. A laboratory in the Ammunition Technical Area (ATA) of the Central Ordnance Depot in Jabalpur has been destroyed in a fire that broke out on Monday following blasts that blew up a stockpile of ``unserviceable '' ammunition in smoke.

The Army and the district authorities have described the fire as a ``minor incident''. The District Collector of Jabalpur, Mr. Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, told The Hindu today that the fire was ``not in the core area'' of the ordnance factory.

The fire was brought under control within 40 minutes, the Collector said, adding that only about 140 rounds of ammunition ``that had already been written off'' were destroyed in this incident. The laboratory, which was a dilapidated structure, came down and was completely gutted. ``Otherwise there has been no financial loss,'' he added.

The fire is one in a series of many such incidents that have hit various ordnance depots since the massive fire that blew up the Bharatpur Ordnance Depot last April.

The Army Ordnance Corps is responsible for the management of the complete range of ``ammunitions from pistol bullet to Bofors shell and all missiles and also for neutralising the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and training in handling IEDs as well as disposal and demolition of unserviceable/dangerous ammunitions and explosives''. Given the gamut of responsibilities, only a thorough probe into the incident can reveal whether or not all the safety drills had been conducted by those handling the unserviceable ammunition at Jabalpur, said an army officer when approached for comments.

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