1 killed, 3 injured as PNG pipeline catches fire

One person died and three others got injured as a PNG gas pipeline caught fire in the city today. Six shops got damaged in the incident. The fire was put out in around one hour by the fire brigade tenders.

The incident took place around 2 pm, when a JCB engaged in digging work accidentally damaged the pipeline adjoining a water pipeline on Old GT road here. The gas which started leaking from the pipe led to an explosion, engulfing the area into flames. As the fire spread and touched the height of up to 15 feet, it damaged six shops located on the side of the road and some of the vehicles, including the JCB and two motorcycles, parked nearby.

Hari Chand Singla (35), a resident of Shiv Vihar, who had been running a tea stall succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Three other persons, including the JCB driver, also sustained injuries. Their condition is reported to be stable.

Senior district officials, including DC Dr Harish Vashisht, SP Chander Mohan and SDM Jyoti, reached the spot. Three tenders of the fire brigade managed to douse the fire in about an hour. As the traffic movement was stopped for around three hours, the officials of the PNG supply company were directed to ensure proper safety measures at such spots.

A probe had been launched and the supply of PNG stopped till the repair of the pipeline, said an official, stressin action would be taken against the guilty.