Six killed in explosion in Army depot in Maharashtra

At least six persons were killed and a dozen others were injured in an explosion at Central Ammunition Depot at Pulgaon in Wardha district of Maharashtra on Tuesday morning.

Three of those injured are said to be critical.

Officials of the Maharashtra police and Defence Ministry has confirmed the four deaths and did not rule out possibilities of an increase in the toll.

Initial reports said that the blast took place when old ammunition was being taken for disposing of, at the demolition ground of the CAD.

The ammunition had arrived from Ordnance Factory Khamaria, Jabalpur.

It may be recalled that 19 persons including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major were killed and 17 others were injured when a series of explosions and resultant fire ripped through the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) at Pulgaon, in May 2016.

Situated nearly 120 km away from Nagpur and over 700 km from Mumbai, Pulgaon has the largest stockpile for weapons in India and this is also the second biggest ammunition depot of Asia.

Spread over 7,000 acres, the CAD, which is known as ‘Mecca of Ammunition’ is of extreme strategic importance as it is closer to Nagpur, often considered the geographical centre of the Indian peninsula. A wide range of ammunition ranging from bullets to shells and rockets to missiles are stored here.

— MB:The Guide (@mrityunjaybose) November 20, 2018