Fire at DRDO’s Odisha munitions plant creates panic
29 Apr 2013
A fire broke out early this morning in a magazine store of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur, near Balasore in Odisha.
According to the DRDO, the fire started at Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at around 4 am. The PXE is located near the premier missile trial centre Integrated Test Range (ITR).
The fire triggered a string of explosions, but there were no injuries and the blaze was contained within three hours.
Alarmed staff ran out to the beach, and explosions were heard at quite a distance, triggering panic among people in Chandipur and nearby areas.
DRDO spokesperson Dr Ravi Gupta said that the fire is fully contained. An inquiry has been ordered and a team of experts from New Delhi would arrive here shortly, he said.
Different shells and ammunition of various artillery systems, including the 155 mm Bofors field guns, are brought to the PXE for testing, the officials said.
Pinaka rockets are also test-fired from PXE complex.
