Fire breaks out in underground gas pipeline near Sector 36-37 light point, no casualty

A fire broke out in an underground gas pipeline near the road separating Sectors 36 and 37 here this evening. The blaze was brought under control in about half an hour. No casualty was reported in the incident.

The fire broke out around 7.54 pm on the Sector 36 side of the dividing road. Thick smoke and flames followed by a blast were visible from a distance. A leakage or rupture in the pipeline is suspected to have caused the blaze.

As soon as the incident was reported, a tender from the nearest fire station in Sector 38 rushed to the spot within three minutes. Another fire tender from Sector 17 also reached there. However, the high pressure of gas in the pipeline posed significant challenges in controlling the blaze. To begin firefighting operations, authorities decided to cut the gas supply in the affected line. Residents in nearby sectors were advised to stay indoors and avoid the area until the fire was fully extinguished. It took 25-30 minutes for officials of Indian Oil-Adani Gas Private Limited, the firm providing the domestic piped natural gas in the area, to reach the spot. The connection was snapped to stop the flow at 8.34 pm. Later, a team of firemen doused the flames in three minutes.

The police and firefighters also stopped vehicles from entering Sector 36, which led to congestion. Commuters faced snarl-ups till 9.30 pm near the Sector 34-35-22-21 roundabout and the Sector 34-35 light point.

Chandigarh