Hyderabad: A massive gas explosion and subsequent fire on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Thursday night sent thousands of residents fleeing for their lives.
Nearly 50 people were working at a gas-filling unit of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd when the explosion occurred. However there was no loss of life.
Fear and panic gripped Charalapally and nearly 30 colonies in surrounding areas as fire broke out.
The area continued to be rocked by a series of blasts as gas cylinders kept bursting, one after the other.
Nearly a dozen fire engines battled for more than two hours to bring the fire under control, as a large police contingent from Rachakonda Commissionerate barricaded the area around HPCL for up to five kilometres.
Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said an alert was sounded in 30 colonies and people were asked to vacate the houses in Bharatnagar colony.
Fire t the unit could be seen from a long distance and the booming sound of explosions could be heard from a distance of 5km.
A thick black smoke had enveloped the area forcing the people to move out of their homes.
Police said a major disaster was averted by bringing the fire under control early as the incident happened in the heart of an industrial area. In view of the fire, operations at many nearby factories had to be suspended.
Meanwhile the deputy controller of explosives has suspended the license of the HPCL unit to store and fill the gas following allegations of carelessness leading to the fire accident.
A high level probe has been ordered.
Employee of the HPCL unit alleged that the authorities had put extra pressure on an old gas filling machine by making the workers do three shifts to meet the huge demand for gas cylinders in view of Dussehra.
