At least 15 people were burnt alive and 15 others injured when a gas pipeline of State-owned Gas Authority of India limited (GAIl) exploded early on Friday near Amalapuram in East Godavari district, about 560 kms east of Hyderabad.
The pipeline exploded in a huge ball of fire at Nagaram village under Mamidikurdu Mandal around 5. 45 am burning 15 people alive and gutting 50 houses and shops. Panic-stricken people fled their homes to save their lives.Half of the people who were killed belonged to two families. Most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Those seriously injured are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Amalapuram Rajahmundry and Kakinada. Officials fear that the toll might rise.
East Godavari District Collector Neetu Prasad said that about ten fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire. “The fire was brought under control in two hours”, the Collector said.Gas supply to the pipeline was immediately cut off and the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) gas field was also shut down.Initially, the fire was so intense that the flames leapt up in the sky up to a height of 250 metres bringing back haunting memories of the famous blowout at the ONGC gas well in the same area in 1996, which had continued to burn for three months.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister N Chinna Rajappa, who rushed to the accident site, said that a high-level enquiry was ordered into the cause of the mishap. “Our immediate priority is relief and rescue measures”, he said.Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in New Delhi, air dashed to the scene of accident along with Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
After going around the scene of accident and meeting the victims, Naidu said that the Government will not make all efforts to help the affected families.“It is a very unfortunate incident’, he added. Officials of GAIl and ONGC were also present with the Chief Minister and the Petroleum Minister.State Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu said that the local people had told him that they have been complaining of gas leakage for quite some time, but they had fallen on deaf ears of the GAIl officials.
East Godavari District Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad said that the people from the surrounding areas have been evacuated. “We are providing immediate relief to the affected people”, she said.The village and surrounding area wore an eerie look as hundreds of coconut trees were burnt to ashes. While the thatched houses bore the major burnt, the concrete houses were damaged partially.As the villagers gathered their wits, panic gave way to anger and they went on the rampage targeting GAIl property, especially the gas connecting station. The mob holding the negligence of GAIl officials responsible for the tragedy, pelted stones at the office and damaged the parked car.
Some of the affected people were seen wailing uncontrollably. “There have been many incidents in the past but I have never seen such a frightening situation”, said a woman whose house was gutted in the fire. local people said that the damage was extensive because the gas had spread in to the village from leaking pipeline.
The GAIl pipeline supplies gas to Godavari Fertiliser Company and Nagarjuna Fertiliser Company from ONGC refinery. locals said that the pipeline was laid 20 years back and that gas leakage was a regular occurrence.A gas pipeline of GAIl connecting to the gas collection centre at Thatipaka in the same region had exploded on November 10, 2010. However, there was no loss of life. Gas pipeline, supplying the natural gas to fertiliser and power companies passes through the picturesque Konaseema region, which is known for its lush mango and banana orchards. Konaseema region has also witnessed a number of incidents of blow out and the biggest of them was at Pasarlapudi near Amalapuram town in 1996 when a fire continued for nearly three months before the well was capped.
Prime Minister Narendar Modi, who expressed shock and grief over the accident in his tweet, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 150,000 to next of the victims and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured.“My thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in the GAIl Pipeline fire in AP. Prayers with the injured,” the PM said in his tweet.President Pranab Mukherji also expressed grief over the incident.