Chandrababu Naidu rushes to Andhra accident site

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has cut short his Delhi visit to rush back to his state where a blast and fire in a gas pipeline killed 14 people Friday morning.

Naidu cancelled all his scheduled meetings Friday in the national capital to leave for the accident site in East Godavari district.

Accompanied by union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Naidu left by a special flight along with senior officials. He is expected to land at Rajahmundry around 3 p.m.

Naidu said a thorough probe would be ordered and if anybody was found responsible for negligence, action would be taken against him.

"Wealth creation and development is important but at the same time safety is also important. All lapses have to be corrected," he told reporters in Delhi.

The chief minister said steps would be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future. He said the government was considering a liberal compensation, relief and rehabilitation package for the victims.

Naidu called on Pradhan Thursday to discuss proposals for a petroleum university, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, and a greenfield refinery in the state.

Naidu was on a two-day visit to the national capital to meet the central ministers to discuss various development proposals mooted for the state as part of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.