Anantnag: Two laborers were killed and two of them were injured in an explosion at army’s ammunition depot in Khundroo area of anantnag district, late Monday afternoon, as the explosion took place amid a group of laborers working inside the depot.
The slain have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Khan and Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Kothar area of Nowgam in Anantnag district.
35 year old Gulzar is survived by his wife and four minor daughters while as 45 year old Fayaz is survived by his wife and a teenage son. Both have been working at the depot as laborers for a while now.
The two laborers injured in the explosion have been identified as Fida Hussain and Shabir Ahmad Khan, both residents of Anantnag district.
A police official from the area told Kashmir Reader that the laborers were working insiude the Field Ammunition Depot of the army in Khundroo when a mysterious blast took place.
“Four of them recovered injuries and were immediately shifted to the medical room of the camp, nearby. Two of the injured succumbed at the medical room while the other two were shifted to the Anantnag district hospital for treatment,” the official said.
He added that a police team, forensic experts included, was sent to the spot for investigation. “So far the nature of the blast has not been ascertained. We are on it,”
Bodies of the slain were later handed over to the next of kin for last rites.
People in the area have registered a strong protest with the army over repeated incidents of blasts inside the ammunition depot where many locals go to work as laborers.
In a similar blast two laborers were injured in January 2018.
In August 2007 as many as 18 people were killed after a fire inside the depot caused a chain of explosions sending shells flying to the nearby villages. Thousands had to leave homes and run for their lives as the explosions continued for days.

Suhail A Shah