The incident occurred around 6 am when many of the villagers were still sleeping. The dead were mostly people living in the huts in the coconut groves through which the gas pipeline passes. The bodies are charred beyond recognition.The impact of the blast could be seen in the flames that leapt over 200 metres in the air. Most of the village took the impact and people ran to safety in horror. Half a dozen fire engines were rushed to the spot to control the fire.The injured were rushed to the hospitals in Kakinada, the district headquarters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident."My thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in the GAIL Pipeline fire in AP. Prayers with the injured," he tweeted.
