6 Dead, Many Injured In Explosion Near Ordnance Depot In Maharashtra

Six people were killed and 10 were injured this morning after a box of ammunition exploded during handling near an ordnance depot in Maharashtra's Wardha. Four were killed on the spot, and two died during treatment at a hospital, the police said.

The ammunition exploded while it was being unloaded for disposal at 7:15 am, a defence official said. Around 10-15 labourers were on the demolition ground near the Central Ammunition Depot, senior police officer Nikhil Pingle said.

An ordnance factory based in Khamaria, Madhya Pradesh, was given the site for disposal of the explosives, the official said.

"One of the boxes exploded while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place on open land," Mr Pingle said.

A defence official said the demolition was being carried out by the staff of the Ordnance Factory, Khamaria, with the help of an authorised contractor. "Contractual services are used for digging pit and placing sand bag over the explosive," he said.

The dead include an employee of the Khamaria-based ordnance factory. One of the 10 injured people is critical.

Officials from ordnance factories at Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Khamaria have rushed to the site of the explosion for more investigation, the defence official said.

In 2016, 16 people were killed in a blast at the ammunition depot at Pulgaon.

With inputs from PTI