14 killed in blast at GAIL pipeline in Andhra Pradesh
HYDERABAD: A gas leakage and blast in the GAIL pipeline in East Godavari district’s Nagaram village killed 14 people and injured several others on Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 6 am when many of the villagers were still sleeping. The dead were mostly people living in the huts in the coconut groves through which the gas pipeline passes. The bodies are charred beyond recognition.
The impact of the blast could be seen in the flames that leapt over 200 metres in the air. Most of the village took the impact and people ran to safety in horror. Half a dozen fire engines were rushed to the spot to control the fire. The injured were rushed to the hospitals in Kakinada, the district headquarters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident.
Meanwhile ,Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge), Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Friday deeply condoled the loss of lives in an explosion of a GAIL gas pipeline in Andhra Pradesh.
Sitharaman, who is on official tour to China as part of the delegation of Vice President Hamid Ansari, said, “I am deeply shocked to hear about the loss of lives in the explosion of a GAIL gas pipeline in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.”
“The Government is committed to provide all necessary help to the affected people and families. I convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery to the injured people and will be in touch with authorities to ensure that the needful is done on an urgent basis,” Sitharaman said in a message from China.
At least 14 people were killed and seven others injured in a fire following a blast in a gas pipeline belonging to GAIL in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district this morning.Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is the country’s largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company.
