AMARAVATI: A gas leak from an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s pipeline in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district triggered panic among people in a nearby village in the early hours of Friday, which was later brought under control.
The gas leak occurred around 1.30 a.m., triggering a fire.
Huge flames were billowing from the gas pipeline in the sea near Daryalatippa in Tallarevu mandal of Kakinada district.
Police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot after being alerted by villagers of Dariyalatippa. ONGC authorities stopped gas supply from the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin rig around 3.30 a.m., following which the fire was extinguished.
The leak occurred in the pipeline, which passes through the sea via Yanam, an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Yanam Superintendent of Police Chinta Kodandaram said the situation is under control.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a visit to Delhi, spoke to the District Collector and other officials over the phone about the gas leak.
The officials informed him that the gas leak was plugged within one and a half hours. There was no loss of life or property due to the incident, they told the Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Naidu directed officials to have a thorough inspection of the entire pipeline. He directed the District Collector to take all necessary steps to ensure that people in the nearby villages do not panic.