Around 12,000 civilians living in nearby villages have been evacuated to safer places after a huge fire engulfed the 21-field ordinance depot (FOD).
ACHABAL: Abdul Rasheed, a 38-year-old shopkeeper of Khajawara, left his home as usual on Saturday morning for work. Thirty minutes after he opened his shop, there was a huge blast which he mistook for a militant attack.
Minutes later, a contingent of forces suddenly entered the market and asked the shopkeepers and locals to evacuate immediately because the nearby ammunition depot of the army had exploded.
Around 12,000 civilians living in nearby villages have been evacuated to safer places after a huge fire engulfed the 21-field ordinance depot (FOD). The FOD is one of the biggest ammunition depots of the army in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Colonel AK Mathur, defence spokesman in Srinagar, however said two persons have died and around 15-20 are injured.
The fire started at 8.55 am on Saturday morning when there was a huge blast in the garrison, followed by two small explosions. Within seconds, the fire engulfed the whole area sending the troops guarding the garrison in a frenzy.
What has given a new twist to the episode is the claim made by the Jamait-ul-Mujahdeen and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen that they triggered the explosion in the garrison which led to massive fire in the depot.
However, Brigadier KS Rana, commander 2 sector Rashtriya Riffles rubbished the claims saying the security of the area is so tight that outer layer of security is five kilometre from the camp site and there is no question of any rocket being fired.
Lt Colonel Mathur said information received so far reveal that the fire may have started in the highly combustible white phosphorous ammunition kept in one of the sheds.
Meanwhile, the state has set up temporary camps for the evacuated residents at Achabal, Dayalgam and Eidgah-Anantang.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}