This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/world/asia/petlawad-madhya-pradesh-india-explosion.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Explosion in India Town Kills Dozens Explosion in India Town Kills Dozens
(about 2 hours later)
NEW DELHI — A powerful explosion ripped through a shop in a town in central India on Saturday, causing the collapse of nearby buildings, including a local restaurant, and killing at least 82 people, police and medical officials said Saturday. NEW DELHI — A powerful explosion ripped through a shop in a town in central India on Saturday, causing the collapse of nearby buildings, including a local restaurant, and killing at least 82 people, police and medical officials said Saturday.
The explosion occurred in a shop carrying explosives in the town of Petlawad in the state of Madhya Pradesh, according to a police official, A. R. Khan. It was unclear what triggered the explosion. Several local news reports cited a gas cylinder at the nearby restaurant as the cause of the explosion, but Mr. Khan disputed that. The explosion occurred in a shop where explosives were kept in the town of Petlawad in the state of Madhya Pradesh, according to a police official, A. R. Khan. It was unclear what triggered the explosion.
Many of the dead had been having breakfast at the restaurant, the police said.Many of the dead had been having breakfast at the restaurant, the police said.
“We are still rescuing the people from the debris,” said Seema Alawa, a police official for Jhabua district, which includes the town, on Saturday afternoon. Ms. Alawa said it was too early to determine the exact cause of the explosion. “We are still rescuing the people from the debris,” said Seema Alawa, a police official for Jhabua District, which includes the town, on Saturday afternoon.
Dr. Urmila Choyal, a medical official in the town, said at least 82 had been killed, most of them men. She said 150 people were injured, mostly from burns and multiple fractures. Those with serious injuries had been taken to the district headquarters for treatment. Dr. Urmila Choyal, a medical official in the town, said at least 82 had been killed, most of them men. She said 150 people were injured, mostly from burns and multiple fractures.
Local television stations carried footage of collapsed buildings in the town, which is in the western part of the state.
The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced a compensation package of just over $3,000 for the families of the victims in a news conference on Saturday.
“I am extremely shaken by this incident,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a statement on Saturday, saying he was “extremely pained” by the loss of lives.