Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
P
anic gripped among the residents of HSR Layout when a fire broke out at the residential line and two women working in the kitchen of the house sustained burn injuries due to gas leaked from a damaged GAIL pipeline due to unscientific digging of BWSSB labourers in HSR Layout area on Thursday morning.
Senior officer told reporters the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board was carrying out sewerage works in the 7th phase of HSR layout around 9 am.
One of the gas pipelines of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) was damaged during the excavation work for laying pipelines next to the GAIL gas pipeline.
The workers soon noticed the gas started leaking from the damaged pipeline,covered the damaged pipeline with mud without informing the authorities and escaped .
The leaked gas soon spread and entered the kitchen of a house near the excavation site,where the women busy preparing meal and caused fire .
The leakage led to an explosion in the kitchen and the woman who was cooking there sustained 30 percent burn injuries.
While another woman claiming the stairs was also injured.Luckily the GAIL operation and maintenance office was situated near-by and the officials rushed to the spot and contained the leakage and took precautionary measures .
The injured women were rushed to the near-by hospital for treatment.
According to an official statement from GAIL,A Fire incident has been reported at 23rd Cross,HSR layout.
Local contractor associated with Water and Sewerage Agency caused the damage without any prior intimation or consent of GAIL Gas and didn’t even inform regarding the gas leakage and fled the site.
The gas caught fire in the nearby dwelling area wherein two occupants reported to suffer minor burn injuries apparently due to the above.
The GAIL Gas Quick Response Team (QRT) and fire fighting team reached the site in less than 5 mins and extinguished the fire and controlled the situation.
As per the standard Operating procedure the civic agencies undertaking any construction work should inform the GAIL authorities on priority.
The GAIL had put up markers along the gas pipeline network and informed the local officers and incharge authorities about the pipeline network. any civic activities should be taken up in coordination with the GAIL official concerned .
This part the GAIL officials carry out regular patrolling along the lines of the pipeline network to ensure safety
It is also learnt that in past similar incidents have been reported against the erring contractor.
The conduct of the erring contractor has been reported to the authorities,who have assured strict action.
GAIL Gas urges to all the residents and authorities of Bengaluru to immediately advise all contractors to give prior intimation to GAIL Gas before executing any digging work nearby Gas pipeline and also report such incidents to our toll free number 1800-102-9282.
It is also urged to exercise extreme care while undertaking any such digging work near the vicinity of Natural Gas Pipeline.
The HSR layout police have registered a case against the BWSSB contractor and engineer,JCB operator and GAIL officials concerned for further investigations.
