Special team for probe GAIL gas pipeline tragedy

Vijayawada: Police formed a special team headed by a DSP rank official to probe Gail natural gas pipeline explosion case that claimed several lives. East Godavari superintendent of police G. Vijay Kumar said, “A team has been formed with Amalapuram DSP M. Veera Reddy and two Circle inspectors. The probe is in its initial stage.”

He said opinions of various experts on the blast was being taken. Police sources said that the statements of several witnesses were recorded and many of them revealed that though there was leakage of gas from the pipeline for many months, Gail officials failed to arrest it.

Police has already registered a case of negligence against the Gail officials. SP Mr. G Vijay Kumar said, “There is no possibility of tapping of the gas from the pipeline. Even in this year there no oil theft cases booked. As the officials of ONGC have developed technology that can detect the tapping there is no pipeline theft.”

Interestingly police didn’t call in forensic experts to the explosion site. AFPSL director Ms A Sharada said, “We haven’t received any request from the police. We were prepared to visit the spot. As the reason behind the mishap is evident they might have not informed us.”