VISAKHAPATNAM: The professors team of Andhra University has found that the blast in the GAIL pipeline in East Godavari district was due to inadequate maintenance of the pipelines. The team also found that the blast had taken place due to corrosion and aging of the pipes.
The team was dispatched by university vice-chancellor GSN Raju to study and investigate the problems and causes of the devastating blast at Nagaram village in East Godavari district. The team was back in Visakhapatnam Tuesday after a three-day spot study and submitted its report to the V-C. The entire blast site was videographed and the experts came out with some new facts. One of the reasons behind the blast was the leakage that occurred more than a week before the blast. This was due to technical failure.
Though the pipes were laid as per international standards and safety measures, corrosion and aging of them led to the leakage and the blast.
There is a need to periodically maintain pipelines and carry out pressure measurement by installing pressure indicators all through the pipeline length. This should be undertaken at all costs to avoid human and animal loss and to protect the eco-system, the team said in its report. The V-C thanked the team headed by Science College principal CV Raman and members TY Naidu, KSN Reddy and K Karunakarudu.