Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Gushing gas keeps villagers on toes

Staff Reporter

With ONGC report yet to come on the phenomenon, an uneasy calm prevails in C. Vengannagaripalli

ANANTAPUR: The people of Chappidi Vengannagaripalli at Putlur mandal in the district, where the incident of gas gushing out from a drinking water borewell made headlines on April 19, are living in fear for the last one week as the gas is found to be gushing out from cracks in the land around the borewell.

The gas is catching fire at every point when lighted . The phenomenon is frightening the villagers, as they fear explosions due to impact of the gushing gas. Some families are even sending their children to their relatives in neighbouring villages out of fear.

A two-members experts team of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), which had visited the borewell on April 20, had collected samples of gas, soil and water and had told the district administration that they would submit the report within a week.

But, nothing has been heard from the committee so far, even more than a month after their visit.

A cement platform constructed a couple of meters around the borewell on the advice of the experts has developed cracks and the gas started gushing out from the cracks. The `experiments' of the villagers out of curiosity also revealed on Monday that the gas could be also used as fuel for vehicles.

One enterprising villager used the gas gushing out from the borewell to run his two-wheeler, to which he uses LPG regularly, and was successful. A few auto drivers also used the gas instead of LPG as fuel and were successful.

"The gushing of gas from the cracks in the land around the borewell is frightening us.Officials are frequenting the village but have not done anything towards the problems so far", villagers Srinivasulu Naidu and Vannurappa said.

Meanwhile, Collector D. Kadmiel visited the village on Tuesday and directed the villagers to arrange a pipeline from the borewell to carry the gas outside the village. He assured the villagers that the necessary action would be taken immediately after receiving the report of ONGC experts.

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Gushing gas keeps villagers on toes

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