A fire ripped through one of the Indian army's largest ammunition depots on Friday, destroying 150 tonnes of explosives and ammunition, military sources said. Military spokesman Mahesh Upasani said the fire started at the Panagarh army base 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Kolkata at 1:30 am but had since been brought under control.
"There has been no loss of life or injuries and the fire was brought under control within two hours," Upasini, wing commander of the Eastern Command, said in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state. An army crisis management team had been sent to the depot to investigate the source of the fire and ascertain the damage.
"The fire engulfed the ammunition and arms store within minutes and gutted a large number of small arms and ammunition," he told AFP by telephone. A military source told AFP around 150 tonnes of small arms ammunition and explosives were destroyed in the garrison town.