Andhra Pradesh: Major gas leak during repairs at ONGC well causes fire, villagers flee

Gas and crude oil leaked from an ONGC well in Andhra Pradesh, triggering flames, thick smoke, and evacuation in nearby villages

PGurus Newsdesk

January 5, 2026

Gas Leak at ONGC Well in Andhra’s Konaseema Raises Safety Concerns

Thick gas clouds spread across villages

A major gas leak from an operational Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) well triggered panic in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Thursday after a powerful blowout released gas and crude oil into the air and caught fire during repair work.

The incident occurred at an oil well in Irusumanda village in the Razole area, where repair operations were underway using a workover rig after the well had temporarily stopped production. During the maintenance process, a sudden blowout released a massive volume of gas mixed with crude oil, which shot high into the air before igniting.

Officials said flames erupted at the site, while thick clouds of gas and smoke enveloped Irusumanda and surrounding villages, reducing visibility and creating conditions similar to dense fog. The situation prompted immediate safety measures from the district administration.

#WATCH | A major gas leak from an operational ONGC oil well caused widespread panic in a village in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district.
The incident occurred while repair works were underway using a workover rig after the well had temporarily halted production. During the… pic.twitter.com/JVoJOictyQ
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 5, 2026

As a precaution, authorities made public announcements through loudspeakers advising residents of at least three nearby villages to avoid switching on electrical appliances, lighting stoves, or using any ignition sources to prevent further fire or explosions.

Panchayat officials and local authorities urged villagers to evacuate the area. Many residents fled their homes in haste, moving their cattle to safer locations as fear spread across the region.

ONGC personnel rushed to the site to control the leak and douse the fire. The affected area has been cordoned off, and emergency protocols have been activated to ensure public safety. Senior district officials and ONGC representatives are stationed at the location, closely monitoring the situation.

ONGC has a significant operational footprint in the Krishna-Godavari delta basin, including East Godavari and surrounding regions of Andhra Pradesh. The company operates through its Rajahmundry Onshore Asset and Eastern Offshore Asset, producing natural gas, crude oil, and associated hydrocarbons from offshore rigs in the Bay of Bengal and onshore fields.

Hydrocarbons from offshore platforms are transported through a network of subsea and onshore pipelines to processing facilities in Yanam in Puducherry and Mallavaram in Andhra Pradesh. After processing, natural gas is supplied to national transmission networks, while crude oil is routed for further handling and refining at other locations.

Authorities said containment efforts are ongoing and the situation remains under close watch.

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