(Image source from: Telanganatoday.com)

For the second day in a row, a large gas leak at ONGC's Mori-5 well in the Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh is still ongoing, and experts from around the world are being consulted to help control the flames. Fire is shooting up more than 100 feet into the sky, creating thick black smoke that covers parts of Razole town, which has led to emergency actions and a detailed technical response. Fire crews worked throughout the night while officials concentrated on cooling the top of the well and stopping the fire from spreading to nearby coconut fields and fish farms. A specialized group of crisis management professionals from Delhi is expected to arrive this morning to lead the efforts to control the well. Currently, firefighting teams are using high-pressure hoses, brought in from Narsapuram, to create a protective "water umbrella. " This method involves spraying water from four different angles to cool the well and keep the fire from reaching the neighboring coconut trees and fish ponds.

District Collector R Mahesh Kumar mentioned that the well sits on a layer that could hold between 30 to 40 million tonnes of reserves. Officials have indicated that if the underground pressure does not decrease by this afternoon, they may have to mechanically seal the well, which is a complicated process that might take several days to complete. The local administration has set up a strict "No-Go Zone" within a one-kilometer radius. More than 600 residents, which is around 300 families from Irusumanda and the nearby villages, have been moved to safe camps. Authorities have also issued a "Loudspeaker Alert" within a five-kilometer radius, advising people to refrain from using electrical devices, gas stoves, or making any open flames to avoid igniting gas that might be in the air. Schools in the area will be closed for the next two days. The incident happened around 12:20 pm on Monday while attempts to enhance production were being made. The well, which had been previously shut down, was being restarted by ONGC's contractor, Deep Industries Ltd. Technical teams were conducting "perforation activities" at a depth of 2.7 kilometers when a sudden rise in pressure caused a blowout of a gas and crude oil mix, which ignited within minutes.

ONGC announced that they quickly secured the area and activated their emergency response teams. They are currently working on cooling down the site and getting ready for measures to control the well and possibly seal it off. They have reached out to international experts in well control for advanced efforts, like cutting the casing, since merely shutting off the valves isn't an option due to the high pressure. According to officials, this strategy aligns with standard procedures for major blowouts, akin to what happened in Pasarlapudi in 1995. Firefighters and teams from the NDRF are deploying nitrogen trucks and large water sprays to maintain a constant water barrier over the site to stop the wellhead from overheating or deforming. Officials mentioned that the fire might keep burning until the pressure underground decreases or the pipeline fails, but they confirmed that there is no immediate risk of the fire spreading beyond the area.

District SP Rahul Meena informed that there have been no injuries or deaths reported, as the well is about 600 meters from the closest homes. Workers at the location mentioned that a white, fog-like gas spread over nearby coconut farms just before the fire started, which helped in quickly evacuating the crew. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been updated on the situation and has told the district officials to focus on ensuring the safety of the farming and fishing communities in the Konaseema delta. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan looked into the situation with district officials and urged them to keep the public safe, minimize panic, and prevent the spread of misinformation. He also directed that those in relief camps receive medications and blankets. Local MP Ganti Harish Balayogi visited the area and noted that the fire's strength and the noise from the well had decreased since the day before. Officials stated that efforts to completely bring the situation under control are ongoing.