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January 12, 2002
2046 IST

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Fire at army's Udasar depot doused

The devastating fire at an oil depot in Udasar army area, which gutted 80 ammunition laden trucks of a convoy killing two civilians and injuring 12 others, 10 kms from Bikaner, was doused on Saturday, official sources said.

Fire fighters rushed from neighbouring Churu, Hanumangarh and Suratgarh districts brought the 200 feet high flames under control on Friday night but a blaze continued in the oil depot on Saturday morning, the sources said.

Panic stricken people from 24 localities, who were shifted to safer places on Friday as splinters, rockets, missiles, bombs and other explosives hit several areas within 10 km range of the depot, returned home after the fire was put out, they said.

Defence Minister George Fernandes and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had visited the area and held discussions with army and civil officials earlier in the day.

Gehlot had also visited the injured in the hospital and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each to the kin of the victims, job for a family member of the hospital employee, Rs 10,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 to the other injured.

He also announced Rs 10,000 assistance for those whose houses were damaged.

Initial reports had said an electric spark in one of the 250 trucks in a convoy moving heavy ammunition from Bhatinda in Punjab to Ganganager-Bikaner had triggered the explosions and the fire.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Fernandes visits site of explosion near Bikaner
Fernandes suspects sabotage in Bikaner blasts

RELATED REPORTS:
The fire at army's Mamoon (Pathankot) depot The fire at army's Suratgarh (Rajasthan) depot Special: The infamous case of the INS Shakti
Special: Unholy smoke
Is there a conspiracy behind army depot fires?

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(c) Copyright 2001 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

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