GAIL suspends two officials for pipeline blast in Andhra

GAIL (India) Limited Sunday suspended two senior officials pending enquiry into Friday's blast and fire in its pipeline in East Godavari district, which killed 19 people.

"Pending the outcome of the enquiry set up both by the government as well as the company, two senior officials incharge of the regional operations and maintenance of the pipeline network have been suspended," a statement by GAIL said.

The blast and fire caused by leakage of the gas from the pipeline burnt to death 19 people and injured 19 others in Nagaram village of East Godavari.

The compensation of Rs.20 lakh per deceased and Rs.50,000 to each of the 19 injured, totalling Rs.3.89 crore was handed over to the district administration Sunday, the statement said.

The company announced that will also adopt the Nagaram village and endeavour to make it a model village.

"GAIL (India) Limited deeply mourns the tragic loss of life and property in the unfortunate incident along the natural gas pipeline of the company at Tatipaka in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh," said GAIL's CMD B.C. Tripathi.

GAIL said it would bear the medical expenses of all the injured and best possible medical care would be provided to them.

In the case of those permanently disabled, Rs.5 lakh for each affected person shall be put in a fixed deposit to enable subsistence benefits through monthly income schemes, it said.

The company is drawing up a detailed plan of action for rehabilitation of the affected people even as it has arranged food and temporary shelter near the accident site.

The loss of property as well as crops is being assessed in consultation with the district authorities. GAIL will be extending compensation for the same.

It will construct permanent houses for the 35 affected families and set up a skill development centre for local residents.

Stating that Tatipaka-Kondapalli pipeline has been certified for safety by various national and international agencies, GAIL said it has voluntarily dispatched multiple teams to undertake foot-patrol of every inch of its pipeline network in KG basin.

The internal audit group of GAIL will undertake audits to thoroughly check the various pipeline systems across the country and submit a detailed report within a fortnight.

GAIL has constituted an internal enquiry committee headed by executive director (Operations & Maintenance). It has also been decided to engage an international consultant of repute to conduct an intensive third-party audit of its pipeline safety systems and other hydrocarbon installations as a precautionary measure, the statement added.