Blast at GAIL Pipeline in Andhra Pradesh, 15 Killed

At least 15 people have been killed and 10 severely burnt in Andhra Pradesh after an explosion at a gas pipeline belonging to the state-owned Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) caused a massive fire.

In this image taken from video, flames rise in the background of houses after a state-owned gas pipeline exploded in Nagaram village, Andhra Pradesh.

In this image taken from video, people gather on a street in Nagaram village, Andhra Pradesh after a massive explosion at a gas pipeline operated by state-owned energy company GAIL (India) Ltd.

GAIL chairman BC Tripathi said the fire broke out in an 18-inch pipeline. "The reasons for the accident are not known yet. We are currently focused on rescue and relief operations," he said.

GAIL is the country's largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company.

The blast took place at 5:30 am due to a gas leak in the pipeline, which is near an oil refinery complex at Nagaram in the East Godavari District, around 560 km from Hyderabad. Several people were burnt alive in the fire that followed, its flames rising almost 20 metres high.

District Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad said the number of dead could rise. It took over two hours to bring the fire under control. The gas supply line has been cut off.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered an inquiry.