2 Agniveers dead, instructor injured as artillery gun shell explodes during training near Nashik

Nashik/Pune: Two trainee Agniveers of Indian Army died and their instructor, an Army havildar, was injured when a light field gun (LFG) shell exploded around 12.10pm on Thursday during a field firing exercise at the firing range of Artillery Centre at Nashik Road near Nashik city.
The Deolali Camp police identified the two deceased as Vishwarajsinh Mahipatsinh Gohil (20) from Rajasthan and Saikat Shit (21) from West Bengal.Both were based at the Artillery Centre.
Indian Army in a post on its official X handle said, "#GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS and All Ranks of #IndianArmy salute the supreme #Sacrifice of #Bravehearts Agniveer (Gunner) Gohil Vishvarajsinh & Agniveer (Gunner) Saikat, who laid down their lives in the line of duty while undergoing training at #Devlali Field Firing Ranges, Maharashtra. #IndianArmy offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief."
The Army Southern Command stated on X, "Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, Army Commander, along with all ranks of #SouthernCommand, express deep sorrow over the tragic loss of Agniveers, Gunner Gohil Vishvarajsinh and Gunner Saikat from the Artillery Centre, #Hyderabad, during a field firing exercise at the #Devlali Field Firing Ranges. We extend our heartfelt #condolences to their grieving families in this moment of profound loss. A court of inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident during field firing."
Inspector Sanjay Pise of the Deolali Camp police said, "We have registered an accidental death for now after receiving a written incident memo from the Artillery Centre and are investigating the matter in coordination with the Army authorities."
A senior Army officer from New Delhi said, "A group of 200 Agniveers from the Artillery Centre in Hyderabad had reached Nashik a few weeks ago for the training exercise. As per the training procedure, they were divided into groups to conduct a firing exercise at the range on Thursday. A group of eight Agniveers practise firing on each gun."
The officer said, "On Thursday, the two Agniveers were acting under the guidance of their instructor. They fired a shell from the LFG, which has a firing range of 2km to 17.4km. However, the shell landed just a few meters from the gun and exploded, causing grievous injuries to the two Agniveers and the instructor. The three victims were rushed to Military Hospital (MH), Deolali."
The officer added, "The doctors declared the two Agniveers dead at 1.15pm. The havildar sustained splinter injuries to his thigh and is undergoing treatment at the MH, Deolali. His condition is stable."
Another senior Army officer, who is familiar with the training procedure and drills for the firing, told TOI, "Each gun used for firing purposes is thoroughly inspected by a team from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) on various parameters, including the gun's barrel, before clearing it for firing."
The officer said, "An Army Ordnance Corps team carries out methodological ammunition inspection every year. Before firing each round, the instructor (in this case, the havildar) inspects each shell/ammunition crack, dents, removal of caps, etc, before loading it into the gun's barrel during the exercise. They do not deviate from the standard operating procedures (SOPs). As such, the Board Of Officers will have to investigate to find out possible reasons behind the explosion."
Another Army artillery officer told TOI, "A peacetime inspection team of the Corps of Ordnance carries out a thorough inspection of ammunition. If they find faulty rounds, they segregate the entire lot across all units of the Army. These ammunition rounds are segregated with a stamp 'not to fire' until fresh order."
The officer added, "Despite having all the procedures laid down, such accidents take place. It could be due to human errors or technical errors during the exercise. It will be revealed during the investigation."
In 2009, a newly commissioned Army lieutenant, in his early 20s, had died in a similar firing accident while attending Young Officer's course at the same firing range in Nashik.