* Tragedy strikes on a placid Friday morning

* 18 killed, 15 injured
* Green Konaseema turns crimson red with leaping flames
* Modi expresses shock, orders inquiry
* YS Jagan condoles deaths.
* Gas leakages not checked, complain locals

As many as 18 lives were lost when Gas Authority of India (GAIL) pipeline burst and caused major fire in East Godavari district on Friday. 15 other persons are seriously injured in the incident.

The blast took place in the early hours, near a Gas Connection Centre in Nagaram Village in Amalapuram mandal, about 560 kms from Hyderabad.

According to eyewitnesses, people caught in the blaze were incinerated. Huge flames sent panic among people in the area.

HUGE LOSSES: Five fire tenders were sent to tackle the blaze. Hundreds of coconut trees were burnt in the incident. The property loss is expected to be very high as the leakage took place in a thickly populated area. Five fire engines are at the spot to control the fire.

AP Home Minister N.Chinarajappa and District Collector Neetu Prasad reached the spot and are supervising the rescue and relief operations there.

MODI SHOCKED: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the incident and spoke to GAIL CMD Tripathi about the rescue and relief operations. Modi ordered an high-level inquiry into the incident.

The Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock at the tragedy. YSRCP chief and leader of Opposition in the Assembly YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock and extended his sympathies to the affected people.

LOCALS SLAM GAIL: Even though the gas pipelines are leaking very frequently, the officials are not trying to repairs, locals complained. Angry locals destroyed the furniture and vehicles belonging to the GAIL.

PAST MISHAPS: Blowouts or gas leakage-caused mishaps are not uncommon in Konaseema region, which is the heart of the KG Basin. Here is a list of past mishaps.

* 1993 - Blowout at Komarada in Mamidikuduru mandal

* 1995 - Pasharlapudi blowout near Devaralanka of Allavaram mandal. The blowout continued for 65 days. Blowout control experts were requisitioned to quell the fire.

* 1997 - Blowout at Devarapalli in Ravulapalem.

* 2005 - Blowout at Tandavapalli in Konaseema. The fire was put out within a day.

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