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Army inducts nuclear attack resistant shelters

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Indian Army has begun inducting an 'Integrated Field Shelter' that can withstand any nuclear, biological and chemical attack.

The induction comes in the wake of Pakistan's repeated threats of nuclear attack against India.

According to a ministry of defence spokesman, Research and Development Engineers, Pune -- a defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation -- developed the shelter.

"The shelter can also be used as command post, observation post, regimental aid centre and communication centre," the spokesman added.

"The shelter is in regular production and already been introduced into the services," the spokesman said.

The shelter can accommodate thirty persons and is capable of giving protection for 96 hours at a stretch.

The shelter is 28 meter long with an overall diameter of 2.5 meters.

The shelter houses a three-ton vehicle, two 1000 litre water tanks, sewerage disposal pump and two 5 KVA generators for continuous power supply.

"The shelter," the spokesman said, "is structurally strong enough to withstand 7.5 metric tonne circular pressure for the earth-covered portions and 15 metric tonne longitudinal pressure for the portions not covered by the earth."

The indigenous structure has three ventilation/filtration systems and a blower filter of 200 cubic meter/hour capacity.

There are no details available of how many of them have been inducted in which all localities.

But senior army officials insist that the army is 'equipped and ready to stand a nuclear attack'.

In fact, the army believes that a tactical nuclear attack would not have 'any crippling impact' on India's fighting abilities.

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