Fire: Delhi suspects sabotage

Published January 13, 2002

JODHPUR, Jan 12: India’s Defence Minister George Fernandes on Saturday said sabotage could not be ruled out behind the massive fire which killed two people and destroyed 1,000 tons of ammunition at an army ordnance depot in Rajasthan.

Fernandes toured the site of Friday’s fire with top army ordnance experts.

The defence ministry late on Friday ordered an enquiry into the incident.

“The damage is extensive,” Fernandes informed reporters after visiting the area with the chief minister of Rajasthan.

The blaze, which erupted in the ammunition depot at Bikaner, close to the border with Pakistan, was brought under control early on Saturday. However, many loud explosions were reported from the area throughout Saturday.—AFP