At least 80 people were killed and more than 50 others injured when a gas cylinder exploded Saturday morning at a packed restaurant in central India, officials said.
The first explosion took place around 9 a.m. local time (03:30 a.m. GMT) in a restaurant building situated in the Jhabua district of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, according to India TV. The explosion was followed by another explosion in the building, leading to its complete collapse.
"An explosion took place in a tea stall on Saturday morning. After that, another explosion took place in a two-story building in which no less than 82 people died," a local police official said, according to India Leak.
Police said more people are feared to be trapped in debris and the death toll might rise. The explosion has damaged a number of adjacent buildings.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "extremely" pained at the loss of lives due to the cylinder blast.
"Extremely pained at the loss of lives due to the cylinder blast in Jhabua. My deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," Modi wrote on his Twitter account, according to India Today.
The provincial government of Madhya Pradesh announced an inquiry into the cause of the incident.
"Proper investigation will be done to find the cause of the accident. A magisterial inquiry will be conducted into the matter," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said, according to Asia News International.
