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A fire at a massive military ammunition depot in central India has killed at least 17 people and left many more injured, according to media reports.
The Press Trust of India news agency said yesterday that two officers were among the 17 soldiers who died in the blaze at the depot in Pulgaon, near the city of Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra.
The NDTV network also reported that 17 people had been killed in the huge blaze, which it said, had broken out after an explosion at the depot in the early hours of the morning.
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Firefighters using 10 fire engines worked through the night to contain the blaze, Ramesh Barde, a fire officer with the Nagpur fire department, told the AFP news agency.
“The fire broke out at 1:30am and nearby fire engines reached the venue by 2:30am,” he said.
“The fire was brought under control by 6:15am. The situation is under control and a report is being prepared,” he added, speaking from the scene.
Thousands of families living in the area had been evacuated from nearby towns and villages.
