Short circuit: FC ammunition depot in Khyber Agency goes up in flames

Triggers string of blasts from mortar shells, injuring one girl.

LANDIKOTAL: Panicked security forces inside Landikotal Cantonment in Khyber Agency breathed a sigh of relief when they discovered a massive explosion – which they feared was an attack – was caused when an ammunition depot of Frontier Corps (FC) caught fire. The flames triggered a string of blasts from mortar shells, destroying the depot.

Initial reports revealed the fire was sparked by a short circuit. While no human losses were incurred at the site, a physically impaired girl was injured when a mortar shell propelled by the explosion hit her home in Kandao Khel. She was taken to Agency Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Khan Pasand, an official of the political administration, said the explosion occurred around 2am followed by multiple blasts, spreading panic across the vicinity and adjacent areas.

“It seemed like the FC cantonment was under attack,” Pasand said.

FC officials told Pasand and khasadar officials who had rushed to the site that an electric short circuit caused the fire, triggering a string of explosions from mortar shells.

Pasand added FC personnel struggled to extinguish the flames, which were not put out till 4am after most of the shells had exploded.

“We heard more than 50 explosions,” said Jumma Khan, a tribesman from Khuga Khel, adding the frightening blasts prompted residents from surrounding areas to run out of their houses. They were, however, not allowed to enter the cantonment area.

“We could see huge flames reaching the sky as explosions continued,” he said, adding residents believed the cantonment was under attack by militants.

Political administration officials informed tribesmen that all educational institutes in Landikotal tehsil remained closed on Friday, as some shells from the affected ammunition depot had not exploded and authorities feared these may land on a school.

“We took safety measures to secure the area, however, we couldn’t stop the shells from explosions,” said a senior security official. Further investigation is under way, the official said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2014.