Several villages in Andhra Pradesh’s Ambedkar Konaseema district were thrown into panic after a gas blowout at an ONGC oil well triggered a massive fire, forcing authorities to evacuate residents and impose emergency restrictions in the area.

The incident took place at the Mori-5 oil well in Irusumanda village of Razole mandal, where repair and production enhancement work was underway. The well had earlier stopped production, and a workover rig was being used to resume operations when a sudden pressure surge caused gas mixed with crude oil to burst out violently.

Gas Blowout Sparks Towering Flames

Officials said the released gas shot high into the air before catching fire, resulting in towering flames visible from a distance. Thick smoke and gas spread rapidly across Irusumanda and nearby villages, severely affecting visibility and creating fear among residents.

As the fire intensified, authorities ordered the evacuation of villages within a five-kilometre radius. Loudspeaker announcements warned people not to switch on electrical appliances or light stoves to prevent further ignition. Many villagers fled their homes in haste, taking cattle along to safer locations.

The fire spread to nearby coconut groves, destroying an estimated 500 trees. Fire services, police, and ONGC emergency teams rushed to the site to control the blaze and cap the leak, while the area was sealed off to restrict movement.

Senior ONGC, District Officials Rush to Site

Senior ONGC officials from the Rajahmundry Onshore Asset and district authorities, including the Collector and Superintendent of Police, reached the spot to supervise operations. The well is operated by Deep Industries Ltd under a Rs 1,402-crore contract awarded in 2024 for boosting production in the region.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation and directed officials to prioritise public safety, speed up relief measures, and maintain close coordination with ONGC until the leak is fully contained.

Officials confirmed that no casualties or injuries have been reported so far. However, the incident has raised fresh concerns about operational safety at oil and gas installations in the Krishna–Godavari basin, where ONGC has extensive onshore and offshore infrastructure.