Islamabad: At least three blasts ripped through a Pakistan Army arms depot, close to facilities linked to the country's nuclear programme, on the outskirts of the capital on Monday, killing one person and injuring two others.
The blasts, claimed by authorities to be "accidental" in nature, took place at the arms depot in Sihala, where facilities linked to Pakistan's nuclear programme are also located.
The site is located 20 km from the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
The blasts damaged a building and triggered a fire that was later extinguished by army fire fighters.
Police officials told the media that three persons were injured and one of them died in hospital. The officials said the blasts were accidental and not an act of terrorism.
Army troops and policemen cordoned off the area and prevented people and media from approaching the arms depot.
Witnesses said they had seen several ambulances leaving the depot and going to a nearby military hospital.
There was no official word on the incident from the army or the authorities though Geo News channel reported that the blasts were caused by an electrical short circuit.
Several government buildings, including a police training centre and facilities linked to Pakistan's nuclear programme, are located in the Sihala area which is heavily guarded.
Footage on television showed a plume of smoke rising into the sky over the arms depot. The footage also showed army fire brigade vehicles and ambulances driving into the depot.
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