AP: Gas leak at ONGC well in Konaseema district triggers fire; hundreds of coconut trees on fire
Authorities have ordered evacuation while power and stoves have been banned in three nearby villages.
Visakhapatnam: A massive gas leak has been reported at an ONGC well, triggering fire, in Irusumanda village, Malikipuram mandal in BR Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.
While repair work was underway using a workover rig after the production well was shut down, crude-mixed gas erupted at high pressure. Thick fumes spread into the village like dense fog, creating fear and panic in the village.
It is estimated that more than 500 coconut trees have been burnt in the fire. The District Collector, SP, and MP are monitoring the situation at the incident site. They stated that people within a 5 km radius of the site are being evacuated.
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Officials of ONGC and emergency response teams are at the site of the gas leak.
It was being operated by ONGC's production contractor - Deep Industries Limited, which is a production enhancement contractor (PEC) and in 2024, had won Rs 1,402 crore contract for production enhancement operations at ONGC's Rajahmundry asset in AP.
Chief Minister inquires about the gas leak:
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inquired about the fire incident at the ONGC Mori-5 well and spoke with Ministers Atchannaidu and Subhash, and other officials. The ministers informed the chief minister that they had spoken with local officials regarding the gas leak.
Minister Atchannaidu also ordered that ONGC technical experts be summoned immediately. He advised the officials to distribute masks to the local residents to prevent them from inhaling the gas.
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