Half of Kargil lost in a day's blaze

Half of Kargil lost in a day's blaze
GAURAV C SAWANT

NEW DELHI, APRIL 30: Artillery ammunition equalling approximately half of what was used during the Kargil conflict in two months has been lost in a day's blaze at the Bharatpur ordnance depot.

It had taken between three and five years to build the ammunition stock and may take longer to rebuild now. Coupled with it is the spiralling cost. The Army's main problem is that the ammunition is not available off the shelf in any country and the war capability of three strike Corps has been hit.

As the Army comes to terms with the loss of 10,000 metric tonnes of ammunition, most of which comprises its air defence ability, artillery and armoured corps in the Southern Command, there are rising concerns about rebuilding the already meagre stocks.

Preliminary reports indicate a loss in the sheds containing high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shells, FSDS armour piercing shells, 155-mm and 130-mm shells apart from both anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The 155-mm shells (Swedish), Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL) rockets and the Russian ammunition are all imported and will be hard to replenish.

``Apart from what has been completely written off, there is another 6,000 metric tonnes of suspected rogue ammunition,'' said a senior Ordnance Corps officer. Rogue ammunition is undependable and has to undergo six months of check before it is declared either fit for use or detonated underground. ``Half of what had been used for 155-mm, 130-mm and 105-mm field guns during the Kargil conflict appears to have been lost here overnight. Detailed inventories would be made apart from carrying out tests to see what all can be salvaged,'' sources said.

What is worrying the Army is that most of its air defence capabilities have been imported from Russia. And some of them are stored there. ``Though ammunition deals move faster than equipment deals, funds pose a problem. Even training of troops would be severely affected due to lack of ammunition,'' sources said.

Bharatpur is the second largest ammunition depot in the country and holds most stocks that cater to the strike corps in Rajasthan and Bhatinda apart from the one at Mathura. The depot also provides strike capability to the Bison formation, all facing a formidable adversary. ``The Army expects the next engagement in the Rajasthan deserts. For that ammunition was being stored and now almost one-third of Southern Command's ammunition is either destroyed or suspect. The situation is indeed serious,'' sources said.

Apart from training and time for replenishment, it is the cost and availability that is worrying both artillery and armoured corps officers since readymade ammunition will not be available and the demand-supply and desperation ratio will send prices soaring apart from suspect quality ammunition being purchased.