Explosion of scrap shell from TN firing range injures 2

In an incident shockingly similar to the explosion in August which killed two youths, a 65-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man have been injured on Tuesday evening because of explosive scrap collected from the Hanumanthapuram police firing range in Kanchipuram district. Police told TNM that the man, Ramakrishnan, was taking the scrap to be sold when it exploded around 5pm.

According to investigating officials, Ramakrishnan was collecting shells that were shot in the firing range, which is used by Central paramilitary forces and the state police for practice.

"He usually takes the metal from there to sell and make money and he found a shell there. It had only half exploded and was still dangerous," says the official. "But he didn't know this, so he took it with him on the bike. On the way there he was trying to avoid a bump on the road, when the shell fell down from the bike and exploded due to the impact," he adds.

A 65-year-old woman was standing beside her house, in close proximity to the bike and was therefore injured. Both victims have been admitted to the Chengalpattu government hospital.

Speaking to TNM, a senior investigating official says, "We have given multiple warnings to residents to not collect scrap from the near the firing range because of this exact reason. But they still do it just get to small amounts of money."

When asked if the same warning was given to the firing range, which was failing to dispose hazardous material carefully, he refused to comment.

On August 26, two persons were killed and three injured after a 51-mm fuse igniter exploded at a temple pond. In addition to this they have also found an 84-mm anti-tank shell on the premises.  Then too police suspected that it was from the firing range and possibly abandoned there by a scrap dealer.