Four persons were killed and six sustained burn injuries on early Monday morning when a 12-inch gas pipeline between Moran and Namrup in Assam exploded and the resulting fire gutted several houses.
The pipeline belonged to Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL). The condition of four of the injured including two children was stated to be critical.
Sivasagar Superintendent of Police Bijoy Giri Kuligam told The Hindu that the incident occurred around 3-30 a.m.
A woman identified as Jyoti Sabar (32) died on the spot. Three persons -- Michael Tapno (30), Paras Sarma (28) and Bhasan Sarma (35) -- succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Of the six injured, who were admitted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, two were discharged.
The SP said the preliminary investigations indicated that the pipeline burst due to leakage. He ruled out possibility of any sabotage.
Deputy Commissioner S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram said samples collected from the explosion site had been sent for forensic examination.
Big crater“A big crater has been formed at the site. About 8-metre length of the pipeline was damaged and an area of about 100 square metres came under the impact of the heat and shockwave. Six houses were gutted,” he added.
The DC said a relief camp has been opened in which 70 people of the affected families have taken shelter.
The AGCL supplies natural gas, procured from Oil India Limited, to about 400 tea factories in five Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Sivsagar, Tinsukia, Jorhat and Golaghat.
