Apex audit body, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), warned the government on several occasions of safety lapses at ordnance factories across the country

New Delhi: At least six persons died and another ten were injured in an explosion on Tuesday morning at a state-owned ordnance factory in Maharashtra.

"Around 10 to 15 contract labourers were at the site when the incident occurred. The blast occurred in one of the ammunition boxes while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place in an open land," Nikhil Pingle, additional superintendent of police said.

On the basis of recommendations of a Court of Inquiry on the 2016 fire incident at Pulgaon, the Ministry of Defence had decided that disposal of all defective segregated mines for exudation of TNT, held at various locations, be undertaken by the Army Headquarters. It was also decided that the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) would replace or repair the defective ammunition within three months. The Indian Army, in consultation with all stakeholders, also finalised the standard operating procedures for the disposal of defective ammunition.

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