The fire that set off the blast around 5am in East Godavari district's Nagaram village broke out apparently after a tea vendor lit a stove, said inspector general of police (north coastal zone) Atul Singh.
A GAIL official, quoting its chairman BC Tripathi, however, said only an inquiry will ascertain the exact cause of the blast.
Television pictures showed flames at least 30 feet high leaping into the dawn sky, scorching trees in a surrounding coconut grove and burning flimsy huts.
Bodies of 13 people were recovered from these huts. Three others succumbed to injuries during treatment at various hospitals. Among the dead are five women, three girls and a boy.
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