NIA team in Madhya Pradesh to investigate Jhabua blast

Bhopal: As the toll in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua blasts reached 89, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) officials on Monday reached the blast site to probe the case.

At least 89 people were killed and nearly 100 injured on Saturday after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stored in a building ripped through a crowded area in Petlawad town.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh as well as a job for the next-of-kin of each of the dead.

Chouhan and his Cabinet colleague Antar Singh Arya faced the wrath of slogan-shouting locals who blocked their path at the new bus stand square close to the site of the tragedy.

Chouhan said the state government has launched a drive to ensure that the explosives for mining works are not stored in public areas even as it was reported that a large number of people were in possession of licenses to stockpile mining explosives.

The chief minister, visiting the victims at hospitals and the site of the blasts to assess the situation on Sunday, also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh on the head of the main accused Rajendra Kaswa, the owner of the godown where the blast occurred.