A major tragedy was averted on Friday morning when a fire broke out at the natural gas pipeline of the Gas Authority of India limited (GAIl) after it was perforated by civic construction contractors in which one person received minor injuries while four cars were gutted.
The fire at the high-pressure pipeline, which carried gas to consumers like Maruti Udyog, occurred around 0945 hours this morning near Sri Venkateswara College in Satya Niketan area, South Delhi. Nearly a dozen fire tenders were pressed into service and it was brought under control by 1100 hours.
“The incident took place when PWD workers were carrying out digging work to test the soil of the spot for construction of an elevated flyover. They accidentally punctured the pipeline, which caused the fire. Driver of an autorickshaw which was passing from the spot at the time of the incident suffered superficial injuries on his face and stomach,” said a senior police official.
The injured driver was identified as Ramprakash (40). He was discharged after first aid. Four cars parked nearby were completely gutted in the incident. With the help of Army personnel, the remaining cars were removed from the area and locals were evacuated. “We have registered an FIR in this connection,” added the police official.
The incident, which took place in the middle of a residential area and shopping complex, was contained through swift action by officials of Army, fire services, police and GAIl.
“We shut gas flow at both ends of the pipeline and brought the fire under control,” said BC Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director of GAIl India ltd, the State gas utility, which owns the pipeline.
Construction for elevated corridor was being carried out by PWD appointed Hindustan Construction Company (HCC). Workers of HCC’s local contractors perforated the underground pipeline while using a drill machine. While the workers fled after the incident, the gas leaked from the pipeline and spread in a small area. It soon caught fire because of spark.
The fire was first detected by a sentry of Army Transport Unit (ATU) just opposite the place of incident. He first heard cries of locals and saw an inferno. He immediately alerted the unit. “The troops of the unit wasted no time in reaching the site with equipment, including a water bowser,” Army officials said.
The actions of informing the District Commissioner, New Delhi, fire station, local police, GAIl control room and organising the traffic control by Army jawans saved the life of many local persons and huge property, they said.
Some elderly people and senior citizens trapped on second and third floor were also safely evacuated by the Army personnel. In addition, inflammables like gas cylinders were removed by soldiers from the houses to avoid any blast. The Army soldiers even collected buckets from houses to make use of available water to keep the fire under check till such time the fire tenders arrived.
Following the incident, police diverted traffic from Moti Bagh toward Rao Tula Ram (RTR) Marg and Shantipath while vehicles coming from Safdarjung Hospital towards Dhaula Kuan were diverted under Hotel Hyatt flyover towards Sarojini Nagar and RK Puram and traffic was not allowed from Rao Tula Ram Marg to Benito Juarez Marg.