Question : Explosion at Central Ammunition Depot at Wardha

(a) whether some people were killed and many injured in a massive explosion at Pulgaon-based Central Ammunition Depot at Wardha in Maharashtra recently;

(b) if so, the details of the incident and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether any responsibility has been fixed in this regard so far and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of aids provided to families of victims; and

(e) whether proper procedures are being adopted in the disposal of various unused ammunitions and if so, the details in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
????? ????? ?????? (??. ????? ?????)

(a) Yes Madam, 6 persons (one Ordnance Factory Khamaria employee and five contract workers) died and 19 persons got injured in the incident.

(b) A team of officials from Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) was deputed to Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon from 19.11.2018 to 08.12.2018 for demolition of old / unserviceable / obsolete / rejected ammunition under technical supervision of CAD, Pulgaon. On 20.11.2018, Ammunition boxes containing unserviceable ammunition were being unloaded and shifted from the vehicle to the demolition pit. During this shifting, one of the boxes fell down and exploded.



……2/-
: 2 :


(c) Board of Enquiry (BOE) headed by Controller, Controllerate of Quality Assurance (Military Explosives) [CQA (ME)], Pune as Chairman and Members drawn from CQA (ME), OFK and Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), New Delhi has already been constituted on 24.11.2018.

(d) (i)



Ex-gratia payment of Rs.25,000/- has been paid and as per the Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923, an amount of Rs.8,54,280/- (Rupees eight lakh fifty four thousand two hundred eighty only) has been sanctioned for the family of deceased OFK employee.
(ii)


In addition, Rs.15,000/- each to the deceased contract workers, Rs.10,000/- each to contract workers with major injury and Rs.5,000/- each to contract workers with minor injury has been paid by OFK.
(iii) Besides, a total compensation of Rs.37.63 lakhs has been given to the Labour Court, Wardha, Maharashtra by OFK for five deceased contract workers.

(e) Only rejected / unserviceable ammunition are taken for disposal by safety section employees following the laid-down procedures / methods under technical supervision of CAD, Pulgaon to ensure safety of personnel and equipment.



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