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Missiles untouched by fire in army ammunition depot |
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April 30, 2000 NEW DELHI, APR 29 (AP) - Missile stockpiles in an army ammunition dump were untouched by the inferno in northern India and killed two soldiers, a domestic news agency reported Saturday.
Surface-to-air and antitank missiles are part of the armory of the Bharatpur Ordnance Depot, where deafening explosions were heard much of Friday.
Authorities ordered thousands of residents of Bharatpur to leave the town immediately, fearing damage by flying shrapnel. At least 12 people were wounded by flying metal pieces, news reports said. Bharatpur is 175 kilometers (110 miles) south of New Delhi.
Press Trust of India said the SAM-6, SAM-7 and antitank missiles were not damaged in the fire.
Defense Minister George Fernandes, who cut short a visit to Kashmir Friday night, huddled with military commanders on Saturday to discuss the incident. Details of the meeting were not immediately made public.
The depot stores heavy caliber shells of 130mm long-range guns and other explosives, news reports said. Preliminary investigation blamed an electrical short circuit for the blaze, which sent a huge column of smoke, disrupting train and services.
It was not clear if there was any damage to the Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary nearby. |