An explosion in the Chandan firing range in Jaisalmer district claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel,while seriously injuring two on Monday. The incident occurred when the IAF personnel were offloading expired explosives from a truck and a live shell detonated. IAF authorities said the shells were transported from Gujarat for disposal in the Chandan firing range. The dead have been identified as Warrant Officer Preetampal Negi and Sergeant Dinesh Kumar. Rajasthan defence PRO Lt Col N N Joshi said it was a tragic accident and that the IAF had ordered an inquiry. The truck was destroyed in the blast,which also injured two other IAF personnel working nearby. The injured have been admitted to the Military Hospital in Jodhpur, Joshi added. Bodies of Negi (44) and Kumar (38) were brought back to the Vadodara Air Force station late on Tuesday night for cremation. Kumar,a native of Ranchi,was a Motor Transport Driver (MTD) at the Air Force Station,Makarpura. He is survived by his wife and two children aged three and five. Later in the day,his body was airlifted to Ranchi. Negi was posted in Vadodara for over three years and lived with his family. He is survived by his wife,Ravinder Kaur,and two teenaged children. Warrant Officer Preetampal Negi was cremated at the Bahucharaji crematorium in Vadodara on Wednesday.
