(Reuters) — At least 20 people were killed on Saturday (September 12) after a suspected gas explosion ripped through a restaurant in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, a police official said.
Another 75 people were injured, an official in Jhabua district police control room told Reuters.
Police suspect the blast, which occurred about 800 km (500 miles) south of New Delhi, was caused by a gas cylinder exploding in the restaurant.
Television footage showed a collapsed building and people searching for bodies in the rubble.
“The cylinder blast took place at Sethiya Hotel in which many people have died and many others are injured. We have ordered an investigation. The injured people and the families of the deceased will be given financial assistance. The announcement of the financial assistance will be done once the report of the inquiry comes,” said Babulal Gaur, the Interior Minister of Madhya Pradesh state.
Local media reported that local police and senior officials have rushed to the site to monitor rescue operations. It is not known if there are people trapped under the rubble.