Blast in ONGC gas pipeline in Assam

ONGC sources claim the explosion was caused by a bomb and the police attributes it to a mechanical fault.

A blast occurred in a gas pipeline in upper Assam's Sibsagar district on Monday with ONGC sources claiming the explosion was caused by a bomb and the police attributing it to a mechanical fault.

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ONGC sources in Sibsagar said that the blast occurred on the company's pipeline at Cherekapar, under Sibsagar police station, around 6 pm when a bomb was hurled by unidentified attackers causing it to burst into flames.

The parallel running crude oil and gas pipelines were immediately closed down and the fire was extinguished, the sources said.

District Superintendent of Police SP Saikia, denying there was any blast said a mechanical fault due to rust in the pipeline carrying crude under pressure caused the explosion.

The explosion was accompanied by a loud noise and the pipeline caught fire, he said.

The blast occurred near a cremation ground and there was was no casualty or injury, he added.