Deadly India pipeline blast

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

At least a dozen people were killed after a blast at a gas pipeline operated by state-owned energy company GAIL in India's south, authorities said.

The victims were local residents.

A fire at the scene has since been brought under control.

The 18-inch diameter pipeline supplies gas to a power plant operated by Lanco Infratech, a large Indian business conglomerate.

A GAIL spokeswoman confirmed the explosion when contacted by Reuters, but said the company was not aware of the reason and its impact.

The state government said it has ordered an investigation into the cause of the explosion.