Second ONGC gas incident in Konaseema in weeks raises safety concerns

Less than a month after a major gas well fire disaster in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) faced another safety scare on Sunday when a gas pipeline in the region leaked during equipment movement, officials said on Monday.

The leak occurred at Turpupalem village in the Kesanapalli‑1 cluster while a workover rig was being shifted to the Kesanapalli‑48 cluster . According to ONGC Asset Support Manager KVK Raju , a flow line fitting was damaged during transportation , leading to the leak under pressurised conditions. The pipeline was isolated and depressurised , and the damaged valve was replaced, bringing the situation under control within about an hour. Raju estimated that approximately 500 cubic metres of gas leaked , a relatively modest volume, and normal operations were restored quickly.

Although there were no injuries reported , the leakage alarmed local residents, who were initially frightened by the spread of gas that resembled white smoke across paddy fields on the outskirts of the village. Residents were urged by officials to avoid lighting fires, cigarettes, or electrical appliances until the leak was controlled.

This latest incident follows a major gas blowout and fire at Well Mori‑5 on January 5 , which spread flames up to 20 metres high and led to the evacuation of hundreds of villagers from surrounding communities such as Irusumanda and Lakkavaram . ONGC’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) battled the blaze for nearly five days before successfully capping the well, with no casualties reported . Senior officials from ONGC and the district administration coordinated firefighting and safety measures at the site, with technical teams working to reduce the fire’s intensity and ultimately extinguish it.

Local authorities and ONGC personnel underscored the importance of rapid response in both incidents, but the back‑to‑back nature of gas safety events has heightened public concern over operational hazards in the region’s hydrocarbon fields .

Safety discussions in the industry also hark back to an earlier pipeline tragedy in 2014 , when an underground gas pipeline explosion operated by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in Nagaram village, East Godavari district , killed more than 20 people and injured dozens. ONGC said it would continue to review safety protocols and ensure that competent teams are available to respond swiftly to any such incidents, reiterating its commitment to operational excellence and community safety .