Jhabua (MP): Reports quoting senior police officials said the explosion in the building situated near Sethiya Restaurant and a bus stand in Petlawad, over 300 km from the state capital, happened around 9 am. As many as 20 of those injured are believed to be in critical condition, reports.
Explaining the high casualty rate, police officers said the restaurant was located in a densely packed locality where many people were having breakfast. Condolences poured in after many people were killed when the explosives went off in Madhya Pradesh.
“I am saddened by the incident. I express my condolences. I have directed the minister in-charge to go to the spot. The administration has reached the spot. I have asked the principal secretary to skip the Hindi Sammelan and arrange treatment for those injured in the blast. I am in constant touch. The incident is sad and has left me shaken. The reasons for the blast will be investigated,” the Chief Minister said.
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Senior officials from Jhabua including superintendent of police G.G. Pandey besides state tribal welfare minister Antar Singh Arya have rushed to the spot. State home minister Babulal Gaur said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been dispatched to Jhabua to help in the salvage operations of the collapsed building. “A team equipped with gadgets to operate in collapsed structures has been sent to the accident site in Jhabua from Vadodara in Gujarat. The team will assist local administration in retrieval operations,” NDRF director general O.P. Singh said.
