Hyderabad: At least 16 people were burnt alive and 15 others injured when a gas pipeline of state owned Gas Authority of India Limited 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 at around 545 am. Such was the impact of the explosion and the fire that 13 people were burnt alive on the spot and fifty houses and shops in the village were gutted. Fear stricken people fled from their houses to save life in all directions.
Half of the deceased belonged to two families. Fourteen of the seriously injured were undergoing treatment at hospitals in Amalapuram Rajahmundry and Kakinada. As their condition was critical officials feared that the toll might rise.
Most of the dead bodies were charred beyond recognition. Eye witnesses said that the fire followed a deafening explosion.
East Godavari district collector Neetu Prasad said that about ten fire engines were pressed in to service to control 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 (ONGS) gas field was also shut off.
Initially the fire was so intense that the flames leapt up in the dark sky up to a height of 250 meters reminding the people of the famous blowout at the ONGC gas well in the same area in 1996 which continued to burn for three months.
Local people alleged that the gas was leaking from the old and rusted pipeline for the last few days and they could smell it but the GAIL authorities did not take any action.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister N. Chinna Rajappa, who rushed to the scene of the accident, said that a high level inquiry was ordered in to the cause of the mishap. “Our immediate priority is the relief and rescue measures”, he said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in New Delhi also air dashed to the scene of accident along with the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. After going around the scene of accident and meeting the victims Naidu said that the government will not spare any effort to help the affected families. “It is a very unfortunate incident’, he said.
Officials of state owned GAIL and ONGC were also with the Chief Minister and the Petroleum Minister.
“It is a very serious situation and we have constituted a high level committee to deal with it”, he said. “Relief is our immediate priority”. The input and out put valves of the pipeline were closed immediately after the fire broke out, the minister said.
State finance minister Y. Ramakrishnudu said that the local people told him that they were complaining of gas leakage for quite some time but the GAIL officials did not pay any heed.
East Godavari district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad said that the people from the surrounding areas have been evacuated to safer places. “We are providing immediate relief to the affected people”, she said.
The village and surrounding area was presenting an eerie look as hundreds of coconut trees were burnt. While the thatched houses burnt the bear the concrete houses were damaged partially.
As the local villagers gathered their wits, panic gave way to anger and they went on rampage targeting the GAIL property, specially 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.
In Nagaram village smoke was billowing out from the burnt houses. Burnt cars, auto rickshaws and motorcycles were also strewn as the onlookers from surrounding villages had gathered in large number. Dead bodies of birds and animals were also lying around the scene of the fire.
Some of the affected people were seen wailing uncontrollably. “There have been many incidents in the past but I have never such a frightening situation in the past”, said a woman who had lost her house and other belongings 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 Fertilizer Company and Nagarjuna Fertiliser company from ONGC refinery. Local people said that the pipeline was laid 20 years back and become rusted and gas leakage was a regular occurrence
