Pulgaon arms depot fire: 7 victims blown to pieces

3 more bodies — charred beyond recognition — recovered from accident site; death toll touches 19

Pulgaon: The intensity of fire and explosions at the central ammunition depot (CAD) Pulgaon, was such that seven of the victims were blown to pieces, a top police officer said.

Long road to recovery: Those injured in the mishap are currently recuperating at the Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital in Sawangi Meghe village. Pic/PTI

“Seven of them were blown to pieces and the body parts were later recovered from the site. The impact of the fire and explosions was so severe that these victims were thrown in the air and landed in pieces,” a high-ranking police officer told, adding that it was for the first time in the history of this depot that such fatalities have occurred.

More bodies recovered
Meanwhile, three more bodies were recovered yesterday from the site of the mishap, taking the death toll to 19. “Three bodies, charred beyond recognition, have been recovered from the accident site today (Wednesday),” Defence sources said, adding that the deceased belonged to Defence Security Corps.

Docspeak
Soon after the mishap, injured were rushed to Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital in Sawangi Meghe village. “17 persons are undergoing treatment. Out of them, three were operated for minor injuries. Four others were surgically operated. While one person was admitted with burn injuries, another one with neuro injuries,” Dr Sandeep Shrivastava, dean of the hospital, said.

Deputy Commandant of the central ammunition depot, Col Gajendra Singh, is among the injured and is out of danger. While most complained of injuries to eardrum, a few have sustained burn wounds. Others were injured due to flying splinters.

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