LIVE: Fire at Pulgaon ammunition depot doused completely; 20 killed, 90 injured

Fire completely doused

The fire that started at 1 am has been completely doused, said Lt Gen Ranbir Singh. The army has also moved medical teams from Pune to help with the injuries and has also ordered an enquiry to investigate into the incident.

Pulgaon depot responsible for all-India supply of ammo

To put things into perspective, the Pulgaon depot is responsible for the all-India supply of ammunition and explosives after it receives them from agencies including Ordnance Factories and trade sources. It, in turn, issues these to other ammunition depots or field ammunition depots for replenishing of stocks.

Safety of civilians around ammo areas important

Sunil Raman further writes for Firstpost that a fire in 2000 at an ammunition depot in Bharatpur in Rajasthan put the spotlight on the handling of ammunition and the safety of civilians around such locations. And that in the recent years, the defence ministry has been under pressure from local politicians to relax norms on no-go-areas around these ammunition depots.

Several fires at ammunition depots

A Sunil Raman article in Firstpost says that in recent years, there have been several fires at ammunition depots, with the last one in West Bengal’s Panagarh, which is also an IAF base that was rocked by explosions in 2010.

CAD in Pulgaon, one among many

A report by the Ministry of Defence detailed that apart from the central ammunition depot in Pulgaon, there are 14 others located in different parts of the country.

CAD also involved in demilitarising ammunition

An earlier report in The Hindu mentioned that the depot, besides storing ammunition reserves, is also involved in demilitarising or disposing the ammunition, after its expiry date. This is naturally a dangerous process and is usually done in open spaces where the demolition explosives are employed, as accidents are common.

Fire under control

Fire caused by primary explosion has been brought under control, according to reports by India Today. The Master general Ordnance will also visit the site.

Sabotage not ruled out

The fire, which injured 20, spread to a number of sheds that housed ammunitions, bombs and other explosive item. Though the cause of the blaze has not been ascertained, the officials have not ruled out sabotage. Some with burn injuries are in a critical condition.

Residents evacuated from nearby villages

A report in The Indian Express mentioned that the area has been cordoned off and that residents from nearby villages were evacuated. Army helicopters were also used to help shift injured security personnel.

Depot stores AK-47s, Brahmos missiles

The ammunition which is stored at the depot in Pulgaon includes AK-47s and BrahMos missiles, reported NDTV.

Have lost 17 brave men to fire at the arms depot in #Pulgaon.May their brave souls RIP & God gv the bereaved strength to overcome this loss.

— General Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) May 31, 2016

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the explosion was massive in scale and damaged many houses nearby.

Huge fire was raging; my house walls have broken, the door fell off its hinges: Resident of nearby village pic.twitter.com/6g0OLpVwY9

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2016

Arms depot had won award for using solar energy

The arms depot in Pulgaon had recently got an award for using solar energy to dispose of expired ammunition, a report in The Indian Express said.

Vice-President Ansari expresses condolences for the dead

Vice President M Hamid Ansari, who is on a five-day visit to two North African countries – Morocco and Tunisia, condoled the death of Army personnel in the fire at the depot. 

“I am deeply grieved to learn about the loss of life in the fire at the central ammunition depot in Pulgaon, Maharashtra. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the  members of the bereaved families and pray to the Almighty to give them strength and fortitude to withstand this immense loss. I also wish speedy recovery to the injured,” Ansari said. 

PTI

Did short circuit cause fire?

A report in The Hindu has quoted as saying that the blast may have been caused by a fire which may have been caused by a short circuit.

Five villages evacuated after fire

Eyewitnesses said flames were still rising from parts of the depot. The army as a precaution got five villages evactuated as the fire was spreading. However, some 1,000 men and women from these villages returned to their homes by the afternoon, as reported by IANS.

Aftermath of the fire that broke out at central ammunition depot in Pulgaon (Maharashtra), houses suffered damage. pic.twitter.com/tp8nGGF9hq

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2016

Thoughts and prayers with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulgaon.

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) May 31, 2016

My heart goes out to the families: Rajnath Singh

The central ammunition depot at Pulgaon is India’s biggest ammunition depot as stocks including bombs, grenades, shells, assorted rifles and other explosives from various factories comes here first and is then distributed to various forward areas. Pulgaon is 110 km from Nagpur.

“I am given to understand that Defence Minister will be visiting the site and this itself is an evidence of how serious and concerned is the Central government. My heart goes out to the families of jawans and officers killed and injured in the incident. The nation stands by them,” Minister of State in the PMO Jitender Singh said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has condoled the death of Army personnel in the fire at the depot.

“My heart goes out to the families of the officers and jawans who lost their lives in the fire accident at ammunition depot in Pulgaon.

“I pray for the speedy recovery of those who got injured in Pulgaon fire. My condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.

Main fire at Pulgaon under control

According to latest reports, while the main fire at the Pulgaon ammunition depot is under control, small fire around the central ammunition depot are still a matter of concern. 

Hundreds of families of nearby villages have been evacuated, officials said. “The main fire at one of the sheds has been extinguished. The situation is being stabilised. Secondary fire and explosions is in the process of being controlled,” the Army officer said refusing to go into the reasons of the fire.

Several fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire.

Casualties expected to increase

The casualties, including fatalities and missing persons, is expected to increase even as nightlong fire-fighting efforts continued inside the sprawling CAD.

Report said that the cause of the blaze is not yet known but fire-fighting operations by the defence fire brigade are underway in full swing at what is Asia’s second biggest central ammunition depot.

Leaders send their condolences 

Condolence messages pour in from all quarters after 20 people were killed in a major fire followed by a blast at the Central Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon, in Wardha district in Maharashtra. The casualties, including fatalities and missing persons, is expected to increase even as nightlong fire-fighting efforts continued inside the sprawling CAD.

I pray for the speedy recovery of those who got injured in Pulgaon fire. My condolences to the bereaved families

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 31, 2016

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave men who lost their lives in the fire accident at Pulgaon.

— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) May 31, 2016

Deeply saddened by the death of Officers &Jawans in fire at CAD, Pulgaon. Pray for the families of victims &quick recovery of those injured.

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) May 31, 2016

Army orders inquiry

Army has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The central ammunition depot at Pulgaon is India’s biggest ammunition depot as stocks including bombs, grenades, shells, assorted rifles and other explosives from various factories comes here first and is then distributed to various forward areas.

Parrikar, Army Chief rush to the spot

Following a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Pune, has rushed to the spot. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag has also headed for the site.

Pained by loss of lives caused by a fire at central ammunition depot in Pulgaon, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2016

I pray that those who are injured recover quickly. Have asked RM @manoharparrikar to visit the spot & take stock of the situation.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2016

Fadnavis assures help

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the fire at the central ammunition depot at Pulgoan in Wardha district as “very unfortunate” and assured all help to control the situation. 

Instructed Wardha collector to provide all required help in this situation. Also asked collectors of the neighbouring districts to be alert.

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 31, 2016

News of fire at Central Ammunition Depot,Pulgaon is very unfortunate and disturbing.Spoke to Wardha collector & took stock of the situation.

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 31, 2016

We are ascertaining the facts under which circumstances it occurred: Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS Defence on #Pulgaon pic.twitter.com/4Wq6e7gjrp

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2016

Will assess situation: Parrikar

Speaking to ANI, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “I am going there and I will assess the situation. 

The fire at Pulgaon, which is India’s largest repository of arms and ammunitions, killed at least 20 army personnel. Both the Defence Minister and the Army Chief have rushed to take stock of things. 

I am going there and will assess the situation: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Maharashtra CAD fire. #Pulgaon pic.twitter.com/6SaZvQVzjh

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2016