India: GAIL pipeline explosion kills at least 14 in Andhra Pradesh

A pipeline carrying gas exploded in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh killing at least 14 people, a senior minister has said.

Flames could be seen erupting from a pipeline of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in East Godavari district early on Friday.

At least 10 people were injured. It is not clear what caused the blast.

GAIL is India’s largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company.

The company chairman BC Tripathi told the Press Trust of India that the fire occurred in an 18-inch pipeline of the company near a refinery run by the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Commission in Nagaram village.

“The reasons for the accident are not known yet. We are currently focused on rescue and relief operations,” he said.

Neetu Kumari Prasad, a senior official of the East Godavari district, said the fire, which has also gutted scores of houses, had been brought under control and the death toll could rise.

GAIL operates a 6,840-mile natural gas pipeline network and seven gas processing units across India. The company is also involved in petrochemicals, exploration, city gas distribution and wind and solar power.