Video | Gas leak, fire at ONGC oil well spark panic, force evacuation in Andhra village

Representative image

A sudden gas leak followed by a blaze at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) oil well triggered panic and a large-scale evacuation in a cluster of villages in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The episode unfolded at an ONGC installation in Irusumanda village under the Razole mandal, where maintenance activity was in progress. According to local authorities, the well had earlier stopped producing, and repair operations were being carried out with the help of a “workover rig”. During this phase, the well reportedly suffered a blowout, forcefully expelling a huge quantity of gas along with crude oil high above the ground.

Officials said the escaping gas ignited soon after, leading to flames at the site. The fire, combined with the continuous discharge of gas, created an alarming situation for nearby residents. Large plumes of smoke and gas spread rapidly across Irusumanda and adjoining habitations, reducing visibility and blanketing the area in what officials compared to “dense fog”.

Fearing further ignition and possible explosions, the district administration moved quickly to limit risks. Announcements were made through loudspeakers advising people in three neighbouring villages to refrain from using electricity, avoid switching on any appliances, and not light stoves or flames inside their homes.

#BreakingNews: Gas Leak From ONGC Pipeline Triggers Panic In Andhra Pradesh's Konaseema@pvramanakumar decodes#GasLeak#AndhraPradesh | @GrihaAtulpic.twitter.com/vVnq2hUZSE

Related Stories

• Nifty 50 may see increased profits through higher ONGC profits on rising crude oil
• 4 lakh sq km freed in Andaman Basin; Lt Governor DK Joshi flags ‘Guyana-like’ potential
• Neutral ONGC; target of Rs 245: Motilal Oswal

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 5, 2026

With the situation remaining volatile, panchayat representatives and revenue officials urged residents to leave the area immediately. Many villagers evacuated their houses in haste, while others were seen shifting cattle and other livestock to safer locations. The atmosphere remained tense as families gathered at safer points away from the affected zone, awaiting further instructions.

ONGC teams rushed to the well site soon after the incident was reported. Personnel began emergency operations aimed at controlling the gas release and managing the fire. The affected stretch has been sealed off, and entry is being restricted as a precautionary measure. Authorities said the situation is under constant watch, with safety protocols being enforced to prevent harm to people and property.

Senior district officials, along with top ONGC representatives, are stationed at Irusumanda to supervise the response and coordinate containment efforts.

ONGC has an extensive footprint in the Krishna–Godavari delta basin, particularly in East Godavari and surrounding districts. Its operations in Andhra Pradesh include onshore assets such as the “Rajahmundry Onshore Asset” and offshore production units, which together extract natural gas, crude oil and other hydrocarbons from fields on land and in the Bay of Bengal.

Hydrocarbons from offshore facilities are transported through a network of subsea and land pipelines to processing plants at Yanam in Puducherry and at Mallavaram in Andhra Pradesh, with infrastructure also located in places like Tatipaka. After processing, natural gas is fed into national transmission grids, while crude oil is sent onward for further handling and refining elsewhere.