The Hindu : Front Page : Major among 25 missing in Kashmir blaze

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Major among 25 missing in Kashmir blaze

Shujaat Bukhari

— PHOTO: NISSAR AHMED

Averting disaster: Policemen on Monday defuse a 130 mm shell on a road outside a residential building near Khundroo where a major fire broke out inside an Army ammunition depot on Saturday.

AWANTIPORE: Two days after the devastating blaze in the ordnance depot in south Kashmir, the Army on Monday said a Major was among 25 people missing. It has sought 10 days time to temporarily restore life in the area but maintained that total clearance may take four to six months. General Officer Commanding of the Northern Command Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag said the Army would enter the area after 48 hours of the last explosion. “Today the last blast was heard at 10.20 a.m. and we are watching the situation.”

He ruled out extensive damage to civilian or Army property but he said that out of the 525 people present in the depot on Saturday, 25 are missing. These include Maj. Tarun Kumar, nine other ranks, 13 Fire Service men and two civilians. Sixteen Army personnel and eight Fire Service men were injured. Only four deaths had been confirmed. Lt. Gen. Panag said that 227 civilians were employed in the depot and on Saturday only 97 checked in.

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