17 reportedly killed in India army ammunitions depot fire

NEW DELHI (AP) — A fire broke out at a massive ammunitions depot in western India early Tuesday, and local news reports said at least 17 army personnel were killed in the blaze.

The fire at the Pulgaon ammunitions depot started before dawn, said an official at the local police station, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

Defense Ministry spokesman Nitin Wakanker would only confirm that a fire had broken out at the ammunitions depot. He said details would be released after they emerged from the site.

New Delhi Television and other local media reported that 17 army personnel died in the fire, and that 19 other people were injured. NDTV also reported that about 1,000 villagers had been evacuated from around the area.

The Pulgaon ammunition depot, one of India's largest, is located in Maharastra state's Wardha district.