FIRE/ACCIDENTS IN ORDNANCE DEPOTS
The
details of the incident of fire in various Ordnance Factories
and accidents in transportation of arms and ammunition which have
taken place after the Agra Summit in 2001 indicating the losses
of life, property and ammunition are furnished below:-
Fire
incidents in Ordnance Factories:
|
Sl No.
|
Factory
|
Date
|
Loss
|
Brief Cause
|
|
Life
|
Property
Rs. Approx.
|
Ammunition
Rs
Approx.
|
|
1.
|
Ordnance Factory,
Varangaon
|
28.09.2001
|
1
|
0.11 Lakhs
|
Nil
|
While transferring
rejected primer of 7.62 Ammunition from paper carton to
Aluminum container in the magazine.
|
|
2.
|
Ordnance Factory,
Khamaria
|
16.10.2001
|
1
|
Negligible
|
Negligible
|
Improper fitment
of disc and washer caused friction and detonator to function
other detonators kept in the vicinity also functioned causing
explosion.
|
|
Sl No.
|
Factory
|
Date
|
Loss
|
Brief Cause
|
|
Life
|
Property
Rs. Approx.
|
Ammunition
Rs
Approx.
|
|
3.
|
Ordnance Factory,
Itarsi
|
30.11.2001
|
3
|
31.83 Lakhs
|
14.73 Lakhs
|
Nitro Glycerine/
Nitro Cellulose Paste drying exploded due to shock against
hard parts received on dry/hot NC-NG paste while shifting.
|
|
4.
|
Ordnance Factory,
Khamaria
|
07.01.2002
|
Nil
|
0.02 Lakhs
|
9.26 Lakhs
|
Accidental
release of striker leading to activation of fuse.
|
|
5.
|
Ordnance Factory,
Khamaria
|
16.04.2002
|
1
|
Not yet Assessed
|
Explosion occurred
during mixing of Z47B composition used as igniter for 84mm
ammunition.
|
Accidents
in transportation of arms and ammunition:
|
Sl No.
|
Unit
|
Date
|
Loss
|
Brief Cause
|
|
Life
|
Property
Rs. Approx.
|
Ammunition
Rs
Approx.
|
|
1.
|
Sub Ammunition
Depot, Udhasar (Bikaner)
|
11.01.2001
|
2
|
2.01Crore
|
125 Crore
|
External explosion
inside one of the civil trucks loaded with ammunition due
to which ammunition inside the truck exploded.
|
No
Sabotage has been established in any of the incidents concerning
Ordnance Factories. As regards the Sub Ammunition Depot, Udhasar
(Bikaner), the court of Inquiry could not ascertain the actual
cause and have not ruled out sabotage.
Government
has taken precautionary steps to stop recurrence of such incidents
:-
- Conducting
special safety audit at different levels in Ordnance Factories;
- Examining
the tools/equipments used in ammunition and explosive production
in the Ordnance Factories;
- Making
each employee aware of General Safety guidelines and related
safety instructions;
- Improving
house keeping in the Ordnance Factories;
- Inculcate
safety consciousness and practice a system of constant supervision
and monitoring hazardous production process in the Ordnance
Factories.
- Inviting
suggestions from all categories of employees in improving the
safety standards;
- Enhanced
security is being provided to convoys/trains carrying ammunition;
- Restrictions
have been imposed on number of vehicles in a convoy; and
- Military
transport and trains are being used to the maximum extent possible
for the movement of ammunition – Civil Hired Transport is being
used only when necessary, after thoroughly checking of civilian
drivers and cleaners.
This
information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes
in a written reply to Shri Rajkumar Dhoot in Rajya Sabha today.
