Raipur, July 21: Three jawans of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and three sustained serious injuries when a grenade exploded accidentally at a paramilitary camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district today in the morning.

According to sources, the incident took place at CRPF's 85th Battalion camp at Nayapara of Bijapur in Bastar, 500km south of Raipur.

While the personnel were handling the grenades in the storeroom before setting off for an operation, one of them went off accidentally.

“The grenade exploded while the jawans were handling it,” said inspector-general of police (Bastar) T.J. Langkumer.

Two of the jawans died on the spot, while the third succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

Sources said the grenade slipped off from the hands of one jawan while he was passing it to another in the storeroom. Head constable Gautam and constable Vikram Singh died on the spot. Four others, who remain unidentified, were seriously injured.

Of the injured jawans, three were shifted to Jagdalpur government hospital while one was rushed to Bijapur hospital as his condition was critical. The jawan however died on way to the hospital. His name is not yet known.