2 IAF men die in shell blast

A sudden explosion in the Chandan firing range in Jaisalmer district claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force personnel,while seriously injuring two others on Monday.

A sudden explosion in the Chandan firing range in Jaisalmer district claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel,while seriously injuring two others on Monday. The incident occurred when the IAF personnel were offloading expired explosives from a truck and a live shell detonated. IAF authorities said that the shells were transported from Gujarat for disposal in the Chandan firing range.

The deceased have been identified as Warrant Officer Preetampal Negi and Sergeant Dinesh Kumar. Rajasthan defence PRO Lt Col N N Joshi said it was a tragic accident and that the IAF has ordered an inquiry.

The truck was destroyed in the blast,which also injured two other IAF personnel working nearby. The injured have been shifted to the Military Hospital in Jodhpur, Joshi added.

Bodies of Negi (44) and Kumar (38) were brought back to the Vadodara Air Force station late on Tuesday night for cremation. Kumar,a native of Ranchi,was a Motor Transport Driver (MTD) at the Air Force Station,Makarpura. He is survived by his wife and two children aged three and five. Later in the day,his body was air lifted to Ranchi.

Negi was posted in Vadodara for over three years and lived with his family. He is survived by his wife,Ravinder Kaur,and two teenaged children. This is an unfortunate incident. Two of our men have also been reported to be seriously injured and have been admitted in a Jaipur hospital. A high-level inquiry committee has been set up by the IAF to investigate the whole incident and we can only comment on the flaw after the report is submitted, said A S Bahal (VSM) Air Officer Commanding,Makarpura.

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