A blast triggered by a leakage in a gas pipeline at Kalol near Gandhinagar claimed two lives early on Tuesday. Two houses collapsed and several vehicles were damaged due to the strong blast that rocked a residential society in Kalol town, close to the Kalol field of ONGC’s Ahmedabad Asset.
ONGC’s Ahmedabad Asset released a statement saying: “An unfortunate gas leakage took place at around 0930 hours today in a gas pipeline in a residential area near ONGC’s Kalol field. ONGC confirms that this pipeline, where the accident took place, does not belong to ONGC.”
Police officials confirmed two deaths while two persons were injured in the early-morning blast. Preliminary investigations suggested the blast was triggered by a possible leakage in the underground natural gas pipeline. Further investigation is still on. Fire experts from ONGC and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) visited the spot for investigation.
"As a responsible corporate citizen, ONGC Ahmedabad Asset is in touch with the State government machinery for fire and safety support. ONGC fire tenders have rushed to the spot and the ONGC Crisis Management Team have been instructed to be on standby for any kind of exigency and support," the ONGC Statement added.
Also read: ONGC Hazira fire: Customers feel the heat as supply gets crippled
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly called the Gandhinagar District Collector to get the details of the incident. Kalol falls under the Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency, represented by Shah. A message from Gujarat BJP circles stated that Shah had expressed grief over the tragic incident and conveyed condolences to the affected. There is no official communication from the Union Home Ministry so far on this.