Six killed in transformer blast in Rajasthan

Six persons were killed while at least 15 others were injured when a transformer exploded during a marriage function in a village in Jaipur district on Tuesday afternoon, a Rajasthan minister said.

"Six have died so far in the incident that happened while a marriage function was going on the Khatolai village. All were due to burn injuries and out of 15 injured, 10-11 are in critical condition. They have been admitted in the SMS Hospital here," state Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf told reporters here on Tuesday.

The village is near Shahpura town, 65 km from here.

Saraf said 18 people were brought here, out of which one child was declared dead by doctors here, and two after being given first aid were discharged.

Minister of State for Power Pushpendra Singh said: "We have set up a high powered committee to look into cause of the blast...," adding: "Usually this kind of thing (blast in transformers) never happens."

Rajasthan Chief minister Vasundhara Raje, in a tweet, said she was "saddened by the unfortunate incident" and has directed officials to take necessary measures and action."

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also tweeted that he was "deeply aggrieved to know about the tragic accident" and extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and prayers for the injured.

--IANS

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