Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ticks off DRDO on ammunition depot blast in Pulgaon

Indicating that the deadly blast at the Central Ammunition Depot in Maharashtra last month that claimed 19 lives could be the result of defective anti-tank mines, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday ticked off the DRDO for "not properly hand-holding" production agencies. He said the anti-tank mine is under discussion because of the Pulgaon incident.

"Probably that product did not go as expected mainly because DRDO did not handhold the production agency, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) until they were quite comfortable and sure of them. Producing and developing agency should tie up with each other," Parrikar said.

He was addressing top naval and DRDO officers in New Delhi at an event. He said DRDO should not behave like a hospital where a baby is born and leave the rest to the parents. He said DRDO should stay around to ensure the child at least gets up and walk.

At least 19 defence personnel, including civilian staff, were killed in the massive fire on May 31 that broke out at one of Asia's biggest ammunition depot in Maharashtra's Pulgaon which houses the largest stockpile of weapons in the country.