NEW DELHI, Nov. 1, 2017 (BSS/XINHUA) – The death toll in a transformer explosion in India’s western state of Rajasthan rose to 14, officials said Wednesday.
Seven people are undergoing treatment at hospital.
The blast took place on Tuesday in Khatloi village of Shahpura near Jaipur city, the capital of Rajasthan.
According to officials, the transformer blasted while people had assembled for a marriage function.
“The poorly maintained transformer exploded yesterday, killing four on spot and injuring 17 others,” a local government official said. Though the injured were taken to SMS hospital, there 10 more people succumbed during night, taking death toll to 14.”
The cause of the blast was being ascertained.
State’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has announced a high-level inquiry and expressed grief and shock over the deaths.
Locals said the transformer blasted at around 3:30 p.m. (local time) while the pre-wedding functions and rituals were taking place inside a house and guests were assembling outside.
“Women were busy singing folk songs for the wedding and children and elders were standing outside the house, when suddenly an explosion took place,” a local resident, Bhola Ram, said. “The blast spewed hot oil due to which several people, mostly women suffered severe burn injuries.”
The tragedy triggered protests from the locals against the government and electricity department.