Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd’s pipe line leaked gas and caught fire at Maddigunta village, Medak district early on Monday. The situation came under control after a 6 hour operation by rescue.
No one was injured in the incident but roughly 4.5 million metric tons of gas went waste. The pipeline, which goes to Bharuch in Gujarat from Kakinada RGTIL gas plant, has few mainline valves in different parts of Medak.
According to officials, the cause of the crack is yet to be ascertained but a crack in a valve located at Maddigunta must have caused the leakage. Officials said that a CCTV camera installed at the premises had recorded the event and after verifying the footage, a conclusion would be drawn.
“Officials from Mumbai alerted the local police after they got an message. They have a centralised alarm system, which alerted them. A police team immediately reached the spot and evacuated the SC Colony situated near the pipeline,” said Medak SP B. Sumathi.
Officials from Sadashivapet police station added that nearly 500 people were moved from the village after the fire broke out. Three fire tenders arrived at the spot but could not douse the fire for hours with water and foam.
