Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Jan 5: A massive gas leak from an ONGC well in Ambedkar Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday sent residents fleeing in panic as flames erupted and smoke blanketed nearby villages. The incident occurred at Irusumanda and surrounding areas in Malikipuram Mandal while repair work was underway on a temporarily halted well. A blowout released a huge volume of crude-mixed gas into the air, which quickly caught fire.

Authorities reported that thick clouds of gas and smoke spread like dense fog across the villages, prompting evacuations within a five-kilometer radius. The fire rapidly engulfed nearby coconut trees, destroying approximately 500 trees. Loudspeaker announcements warned residents of three villages to avoid using electricity, turning on appliances, or lighting stoves to prevent further ignition.

An emergency response team from ONGC, along with senior officials, arrived at the site following alerts from local revenue authorities. Fire services, police, and other departments joined the efforts to control the blaze. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police were actively monitoring the situation.

Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu contacted ministers K Atchannaidu and Vasamsetti Subhash to get updates on the leak. Officials informed the CM that relief measures were being intensified. The Chief Minister directed authorities to ensure villagers’ safety, expedite evacuations, and bring the gas leak under control immediately. He also instructed continuous coordination between district officials and ONGC teams to manage the emergency.