The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the gas pipeline blast in Magaram village at Amalapuram Mandai of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh exposed “negligence on the part of the authorities, including GAIL and Lanco Infotech, in maintaining the safety and security of pipelines spread over human habitation.”
In a statement, CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen demanded a probe by a high-power impartial agency to find out the cause of the fire and to fix responsibility for the mishap, which claimed at least 14 lives and injured many others.
“The families of those killed in the accident should be appropriately compensated and employment provided to their kin, as also to those injured, besides making arrangements for their medical treatment,” Sen said.