15 burnt to death as gas pipeline bursts in AP

Villagers jolted out of sleep, fail to escape blaze

At least 15 people were burnt alive and 27 others, including five children, suffered burns in a massive explosion caused by a suspected gas leak in a pipeline operated by the state-owned Gas Authority of India Limited (Gail) here in the early hours of Friday.

The ensuing fire that engulfed the village, ravaged huts and shops for almost two hours. The devastation was seen in an area of around five acres. Of the 15 dead, seven belonged to two families.

Residents said they could smell gas in the area since Thursday night, but did not realise its gravity as it is a regular occurrence there. Gas leaking from the pipeline had spread around and inside the homes of the Nagaram residents.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out when a hotel owner situated close to the gas pipeline, lit a stove. This was followed by a huge explosion, resulting in a big fireball.

It caught the 500-odd residents of this coastal village unawares, as most villagers were asleep when the explosion occurred.

They ran out of their homes in panic after hearing loud blasts that accompanied the blaze, but few could escape. The fire also destroyed vegetation in large areas, and many coconut trees were burnt.

 The 18-inch pipeline supplies gas to a power plant operated by Lanco Infratech Ltd. “We have recovered 15 bodies so far and the toll is likely to rise,” said Andhra Pradesh Home Minister N Chinnarajappa, who was the first to reach the spot. He supervised the rescue and relief operations.

Villagers who suffered 90 per cent burns have been shifted to a private hospital in Kakinada. The others are undergoing treatment at a general hospital in Amalapuram. The children who were injured in the blast are in the age group of 19 months to nine years.

“Gail officials made minor repairs three days ago on a leakage complaint, but there was no improvement,” said Chinnarajappa.

Right after the blast, the ONGC shut its gas field located just 50 km away. The Lanco gas-based power plant in Vija­yawada had to cut down power production by about 300 MW. This led to power cuts in the coastal region.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and will draw up an action plan to avoid similar accidents in future, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.

He rushed from New Delhi by a special flight along with Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Naidu promised that the government will take all necessary steps to safeguard the lives of people staying in areas close to gas pipelines. Gail officials said the cause of the fire was being thoroughly probed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed, and Rs 50,000 to the injured. President Pranab Mukherjee also expressed his condolences.