Indian Bishops: Catholic Church aids families affected by Jhabua explosion
Jhabua (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church has decided to allocate financial aid to the families affected by the yesterday’s disaster in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, where a tremendous explosion caused 104 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Mons. Basil Bhuriya, bishop of the Diocese of Jhabua, expressed "condolences for the tragic loss of life. It is heartbreaking that so many children, the day workers and peasants from surrounding villages who come here to sell their products, have died in this explosion. " A building containing explosives for mines, blew up destroying the surrounding area, including a crowded restaurant.
"Our hearts - continued the prelate - are with their grieving families, many of whom have lost their only source of income, and with those who were injured. The Catholic Church of Jhabua will provide financial assistance to such families. "
The explosion was triggered in a building belonging to Rajendra Kasawa, who was licensed to use explosives in mining. Kasawa had stored the material, including a large quantity of gelatin sticks in a residential complex - which included two stores - near the popular Sethia restaurant, in the city of Petlawad.
The explosion occurred at 8:30 am, when some workers and students from the nearby school were having breakfast at the restaurant. An eyewitness says that "people were thrown into the air like pebbles in the explosion".
Msgr. Leo Cornelio, President of the Bishops' Conference of Madhya Pradesh (CBMP), told AsiaNews: "This terrible accident caused by explosives for mines was avoidable. It is the result of a series of errors by the local government. Such a large amount of explosives should not be stored in a public space. Under the law, there should be serious restrictions ". "Moreover - said the bishop - the CBMP asks that adequate compensation is guaranteed immediately for victims' families. What has been offered so far is a pittance. "
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh had committed a compensation of 200 thousand rupees (about EUR 2,600) to the families of the dead and 50 thousand rupees (664 EUR) for the wounded.
.png)
