With reference to the report, "Over 100 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh explosion" (September 13), the blast at an illegal explosives dump in Petlawad town of Jhabua district was a disaster waiting to happen. It is incongruous that a deadly stockpile of gelatin rods, urea and other chemicals was stored illegally inside a building at a busy place.
Although the owner had the licence to use the explosives for digging wells and mining, he did not have one for storing them. The authorities should have penalised him heavily for negligence.
It is unfortunate that many of the victims were daily wage labourers and vendors, who had just started their day on the pavement in front of the building. While one's heart goes out to the dead and the injured, it is amazing how our leaders attach such low value to human lives, which is evident from the pittance announced as ex-gratia by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
N J Ravi Chander Bengaluru
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