Fire, explosions rock ammo magazine at Betul

Margao: A fire broke out at the ammunition magazine of Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt Ltd at Naqueri-Betul, Quepem, late Thursday, causing damage of Rs 6 crore. The blaze, which began at 11pm, was extinguished by 12.15am Friday, destroying the 71sqm facility storing propellant material.

Residents heard a loud sound around 11pm, and explosions were audible 2-3km away. The flames were visible for kilometres, creating panic in the area.

Hughes Precision, which has an advanced small-calibre ammunition facility in the Verna industrial estate, uses the Naqueri site for propellant storage.

Police got a distress call at 11.30pm and forced entry into the facility, while firefighters took 90 minutes to douse the blaze.

“The temperature rise may have caused the fire and the explosion,” said Nitin Raikar, director of fire and emergency services. Raikar said that a quick response vehicle and bomb disposal squad were stationed at the site on Friday as a precaution.

The magazine is located in an isolated area, with the nearest residential structure 800m away and secured by barbed wire. Official sources confirmed no casualties.

South Goa collector Eegna Cleetus, SP Tikam Singh Verma, and deputy collector, Quepem, Manohar Karekar supervised the disaster management operations at the site.

Authorities have ruled out an electrical short circuit as the cause, as the magazine had no power connection. “Police have registered the case as an incident of fire and are verifying the warehouse’s legal documents,” said Verma.

The collector has issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, restricting public access within an 800-m radius of the site. The order cites “apprehension of danger to life and livelihood” after the incident destroyed nearly 14.5 tonnes of propellant in the facility. The prohibition will remain in effect until the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) provides clearance, the order said.

Following the incident, PESO suspended Hughes Precision’s explosives license with immediate effect. In a notice dated March 21, PESO said that “due to the accident, the magazine is not safe for use,” which constitutes violations under Rules 118(2)(ii) and 131 of Explosives Rules, 2008. The company has been given 21 days to justify retaining its license while ordering proper disposal of remaining explosives.