Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5

About two years after 18 soldiers, including two officers, were killed in a massive blaze that engulfed the Central Ammunition Depot at Pulgaon, they have been granted the status of battle casualty, thereby entitling their families to higher financial benefits.Representations from the next of kin of deceased personnel had been received by the Ministry of Defence for sanction of liberalised family pension and commensurate ex gratia. Liberalised pension is granted to dependants of armed forces personnel killed in notified operational areas and is equal to 100 per cent of the last drawn pay.“The case for classification of said casualties as battle casualties has been considered by this ministry and it has been decided with approval of the competent authority that as an exception, military personnel who died or were injured or disabled in the aforementioned ammunition accident shall be eligible to battle casualty status,” orders issued by the MoD state.In May 2016, a large quantity of mines stored in Explosive Stores House 192 of the depot went up in flames with as much as 135,275 kg explosives detonating. That resulted in the death of 19 personnel and grievous injuries to 17 military, Defence Security Corps and civilians.Under existing provisions, the deaths and injuries had then been classified as physical casualties attributable to military service, which receive benefits, lower that that given to battle casualties. Several casualties took place during fire-fighting and damage-containment operations.