» ONGC-GAIL Gas Pipeline Burst In Rajahmundry, AP: Ecological Damage 'Enormous'
Gas Pipeline Bursts In Rajahmundry
Flames from a burst pipeline touched a height of 70 to 80 metres, reducing 500 coconut trees to ashes, and singed fish and prawns in 30 acres of water bodies.
Gas Authority of India Limited sources on Wednesday said that though the flames which had arisen after the GCS-II ONGC pipeline burst were brought under control within 3 hours, the blaze had caused 'enormous' damage to the local ecology.
The gas pipeline, belonging to the Gas Authority Of India Limited from GCS-II ONGC well at Ponnamanda village (Mamidikuduru mandal, Konaseema, East Godavari district) had burst and caught fire on Tuesday night.
According to ONGC sources, the flames from the pipeline touched a height of 70 to 80 metres, reducing 500 coconut trees to ashes, and singed fish and prawns in 30 acres of water bodies.
The huge flames also damaged the paddy crop in 50 acres of fertile land in the region. According to sources, the value of the crop in each acre of the coconut plantations is estimated to be between Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh.
2 motor cycles and 2 oil engines also caught fire in the incident.
Fire department officials put off the fire after struggling for more than 3 hours.
Petrochemical majors will pay adequate compensation to the victims once the damage is estimated.
The bursting of the pipeline is eerily reminiscent of an earlier blowout on September 8, 2005, in which 7 persons working at the ONGC well at Tandavapalli village near Amalapuram town were killed. The fire was so severe that the oil rig and 4 vehicles parked nearby melted in the heat.