Post by : Meena Ariff

A major gas leak from an operational ONGC oil well triggered widespread panic in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday after a sudden blowout led to a fire during repair operations.

The incident occurred at an oil well located in Irusumanda village under the Razole mandal. Officials said the well had temporarily stopped production and repair work was being carried out using a workover rig. During the process, a powerful blowout released a large volume of gas mixed with crude oil, shooting high into the air.

The leaked gas soon caught fire, sending flames skyward and alarming residents in the surrounding villages. Thick clouds of gas and smoke blanketed Irusumanda and nearby areas, spreading rapidly like dense fog and reducing visibility.

As a precautionary measure, local authorities issued repeated announcements through loudspeakers, urging residents of at least three nearby villages to avoid using electricity, switching on appliances, or lighting stoves to prevent further ignition.

Panchayat representatives and district officials advised villagers to evacuate immediately. Many residents fled their homes in haste, moving their cattle and essential belongings to safer locations as tension gripped the area.

ONGC emergency response teams rushed to the site to contain the gas leak and control the fire. The affected zone was cordoned off, and continuous monitoring is underway to prevent any escalation.

Senior district administration officials, along with ONGC engineers, are present at the spot overseeing safety operations and containment efforts.

ONGC has a significant operational footprint in the Krishna-Godavari delta region, where it extracts natural gas, crude oil, and associated hydrocarbons through its onshore and offshore assets. The company operates multiple fields connected by an extensive subsea and onshore pipeline network, supplying processed gas to national transmission systems and crude for further refining.

Authorities said emergency measures remain in place until the situation is fully stabilised.

#Global News