Death Toll of India Restaurant Blast Climbs to 100

Date

9/13/2015 8:57:28 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

New Delhi: At least 100 people including three children were killed and over 150 injured in the massive explosion that tore through a restaurant in Petlawad in theIndian state of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

The explosion was the result of a deadly stockpile of gelatin rods urea and other chemicals stored illegally inside a building at a busy bus-stand in Petlawad-Thandla highway in Jhabua Madhya Pradesh The Times ofIndiareported.

The detonation ripped apart the three-storey residence-cum-commercial complex which ran a busy eatery along the state highway. There were at least 60 people inside Sethia restaurant and around 100 others inside the building and an adjoining flour mill when the blast occurred. Many of those killed were daily-wagers.

The intensity of the blast tore apart bodies that flew out of the building in a ball of fire. Vehicles parked nearby were charred to skeletal remains. It's suspected that the gelatin sticks and other chemicals were illegally stored by a local contractor Arpan Kaswa of Petlawad who had rented space in the building to run an agriculture product business five years ago. He and his four brothers are learnt to have fled the town.

Divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey feared the death toll could rise as several of the wounded were in a critical state. Home Minister Babulal Gaur said an inquiry has been ordered into the disaster. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Rs 2 lakh relief to the families of those killed.

The blast occurred when people were at the restaurant for their breakfast. Minutes before the explosion survivors said they heard a minor explosion which they thought was an LPG cylinder burst. A few minutes later thick smoke began billowing from the shop owned by Kaswa and the building blew up.

The Jhabua administration launched rescue operations with help of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and other agencies. A few social groups too lent support.

Station House officer of Petlawad police station Kunwar Shivji Singh was suspended for not taking action against illegal storage of explosives. (QNA)

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.