By A major gas leak from an operational ONGC oil well triggered panic in Irusumanda village of Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday, after the leaked gas caught fire during repair operations.
The incident occurred in the Razole area while maintenance work was underway using a workover rig. The well had temporarily halted production, and during the repair process, a sudden blowout released a large volume of gas mixed with crude oil, which shot high into the air. Shortly afterward, the escaping gas ignited, causing flames to erupt at the site.
According to local officials, thick clouds of gas and smoke spread across Irusumanda and nearby villages, enveloping the area like dense fog and heightening fears among residents. As a precautionary measure, authorities issued public announcements through loudspeakers, instructing people in at least three surrounding villages to avoid using electricity, switching on appliances, or lighting stoves to prevent further ignition.
Panchayat representatives and district officials urged residents to evacuate immediately. Many villagers fled their homes and moved cattle to safer locations as emergency teams worked to stabilise the situation. The affected area has been cordoned off, and continuous monitoring is underway.
ONGC personnel rushed to the site to control the gas leak and contain the fire, while senior district administrators and ONGC officials remained present to oversee emergency operations and ensure public safety.
ONGC has a significant operational footprint in the Krishna–Godavari delta basin, particularly in East Godavari and surrounding regions of Andhra Pradesh. The company operates through its Rajahmundry Onshore Asset and Eastern Offshore Asset, producing natural gas, crude oil, and associated hydrocarbons from both offshore rigs in the Bay of Bengal and onshore fields.
Hydrocarbons from offshore platforms are transported via an extensive subsea and onshore pipeline network to processing facilities in Yanam (Puducherry) and Mallavaram (Andhra Pradesh), with supporting infrastructure spread across areas such as Tatipaka. After processing, natural gas is supplied to national transmission networks, while crude oil is routed to other locations for refining and further handling.
