New Delhi, December 02: At least four Indian army soldiers were killed in a powerful explosion at a military base in the northern state of Punjab, officials said Wednesday. The blast occurred Tuesday night when a vehicle battery which was being charged exploded in the motor transport section of the army cantonment in the central Jalandhar district.
Army spokesman Naresh Vig said all four soldiers died on the scene and the blast triggered a blaze that engulfed vehicles parked in the area.
Army authorities have instituted an inquiry into the incident amid rumours that a terrorist strike had taken place in the cantonment.
The army cordoned off the cantonment situated some 370 kilometres north-west of Indian capital New Delhi and bomb-disposal squads carried out a thorough search of the site where the explosion took place.
The Jalandhar cantonment houses army units which are entrusted with the security of India’s western frontier with neighbouring Pakistan.
–Agencies