Seven dead, eight critical in mining explosion in UP

SONBHADRA (UTTAR PRADESH): At least seven persons were killed today and eight others injured when explosives, to be used for mining, went off inside a room in Obra town here.

The incident took place in Rasprehari mining area of Sonbhadra district. The injured were rushed to a hospital where their condition was stated to be serious, police said.

Identity of those killed in the explosion could not be ascertained till late evening, police said, adding that the debris was being searched as it was suspected that more people might be trapped inside it.

The incident comes close on the heels of a similar explosion in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district in which 88 people were killed. The explosion took place when mining gelatin stored in a house in Petlawad town of Jhabua went off on September 13.