Nagpur, May 31 (Agencies): At least 17 security personnel, including two  army officers, were on Tuesday killed in a major fire that broke out at the central ammunition depot in Maharashtra's Pulgoan that houses the biggest stockpile of weapons in the country.

Two officers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, and 15 Defence Security Corps (DSC) jawans were among those killed in the blaze, an army  officer said.

Also, at least 19 security personnel were injured in the fire, which has  spread to a number of sheds that house ammunition, bombs and explosive items.

Sources said residents of nearby villages have been evacuated and army helicopters pressed into service to help in the evacuation of the  injured security personnel.

”The main fire at one of the sheds has been extinguished. The  situation is being stabilised. Secondary fires and explosions cannot be ruled out now,” the army officer said, refusing to go into the reasons of the fire.

The two army officers who died had gone to the site when the fire broke out after midnight, to gather people and help douse the flames, Reuters quoted Brigadier Sandeep Bhalla as saying.

”Once they were fighting the fire, the explosion must have taken place and they all died,” he told television channels.

The cause of the fire is not known, officials said, adding that a tally of dead could not be confirmed because rescue teams had not been able to check all parts of the depot.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter that he was pained by the loss of lives and had asked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to visit the site.

The army has ordered an inquiry into the fire, officials said. 

The central ammunition depot at Pulgaon is India's biggest ammunition  depot as stocks from various factories come here first and are then distributed to various forward areas. Pulgaon is 110 km from Nagpur.