Gas leak triggers fire at ONGC well in Konaseema, no casualties reported

A major accident was narrowly averted on Monday morning after a gas leak triggered a massive fire at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) oil well in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh. Around 600 people from nearby villages, including Mori and Irusumanda, were evacuated as a precautionary measure. No injuries or loss of life were reported.

The incident occurred at the Mori-5 well near Irusumanda village in Malikipuram mandal, where flames shot high into the sky, causing panic among residents of nearby villages.

According to preliminary information, the fire broke out due to a technical fault in a gas pipeline at the well. ONGC had engaged private contractor Deep Industries Limited to carry out production enhancement works at the site, and the gas leak reportedly occurred during these ongoing operations.

On receiving information, senior ONGC officials from Rajamahendravaram, along with fire department personnel, rushed to the spot and initiated efforts to bring the blaze under control. As the fire intensified, authorities began shifting residents from surrounding habitations to safer locations.

Deep Industries Limited had secured a major contract worth ₹1,402 crore in 2024 for production enhancement activities at ONGC’s Rajamahendravaram asset. The gas leak during these works has raised safety concerns, and technical teams are currently working to plug the leakage and rectify the fault.

The state government responded swiftly to the incident. Labour Minister Vasamsetti Subhash and Minister Atchannaidu spoke to the district collector and superintendent of police to review the situation.

Minister Subhash directed officials to ensure that the public faces no inconvenience and instructed the company to immediately deploy technical experts to control the fire. Minister Atchannaidu asked officials to take all necessary precautions to prevent health issues among local residents due to gas exposure, including the distribution of masks in affected areas and close monitoring of evacuation measures.

Firefighting and safety operations were continuing, and authorities said the situation was being closely monitored.