An army tank carrying explosives caught fire and triggered a series of blasts on the Jammu-Akhnoor road, defence sources said.

The tank loaded on an army tractor trailer caught fire when its diesel tank burst late on Monday night on a culvert near Bakshi Nagar-Shakti Nagar. Several explosives inside the tank went off with a deafening sound and flames completely engulfed the tank.

The driver of the vehicle detached it from the trailer and parked it a safe distance away from the burning tank. The entire area was cordoned off and the adjoining areas were evacuated. There was no loss of life or damage to property.

Union Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta ruled out any sabotage. An army officer on the site said grenades or batteries kept in the tank could have caused the explosions.

A court of inquiry is being ordered into the incident, a defence spokesman said. The tank will be removed from the site only after clearance from experts. The army convoy was on its way to Akhnoor. Traffic on the Jammu-Akhnoor road has been diverted.