The fire started at the high security central ammunition depot in Pulgaon, Maharashtra, around 1 am in a shed housing ‘highly sensitive ammunition’
The fire at CAD Pulgaon broke out in the wee hours of yesterday
Pulgaon: At least 16 defence personnel, including two Army officers, were killed yesterday in a massive fire that broke out at one of Asia’s biggest ammunition depot in Pulgaon that houses the largest stockpile of weapons in the country.
Up in flames: The fire at CAD Pulgaon broke out in the wee hours of yesterday. Pic/PTI
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The fire which started at 1 am at one of the sheds that housed ‘highly sensitive ammunition’ in the high security central ammunition depot (CAD), spread over 7,000 acres, has been completely doused and the situation brought under control after an overnight operation.
“In efforts to douse the fire, two officers and 14 personnel (including an Army jawan and 13 civilian fire fighting staff) lost their lives and two officers and 15 personnel (including nine Army Jawans and six civilian firefighting staff) were injured,” Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.
Loud explosions were heard one after the other as the raging fire lit up the night sky. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and the Army has instituted an inquiry into the incident, Singh said.