Bathinda August 8:
At least four women and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl were killed and several others injured after a blast took place at a house located in the Choorianwali Gali in Jogi Nagar here late this evening. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been called in to ascertain the cause of the blast.
Several others are suspected to be buried under the debris as rescue operations were on till the filing of this report around 8 pm. The blast was so powerful that the house was completely blown apart and a number of nearby located buildings also got damaged. The blast was heard even at a distance of hundreds of metres away. Within a few moments, hundreds of people gathered at the spot and launched rescue operations.
According to residents of the locality, the blast was so powerful that two women were thrown out of the house and rescue volunteers found them lying dead. Later, three more bodies were recovered from the debris. As per information, three families were living in the house, of whom two were tenants. The house belonged to Nachchatar Singh, who also sustained severe injuries.
Before the police, fire brigade and medical team officials could reach the spot, volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva and Noujwan Welfare Society rushed them to the Civil Hospital, where doctors confirmed their death. Later, rescue volunteers recovered two legs and an operation was on to locate the dismembered bodies.