Gas spurting from ground at Surat

First it was groundwater but now spurts of gas are coming out of the ground at very places in Olpad town. Preliminary investigation has identified it as methane gas.

Gas began to come out of the ground at different spots in Dada Nagar area of the town form early in the morning on Thursday.

Local people smelled something foul and, when they checked, they were surprised to find that it was gas coming out of the ground. Scared residents immediately informed the local administration which sent officials to the Dada Nagar area.

The officials checked the entire area and informed the ONGC. However, till late on Friday evening, no ONGC official had visited the site. Local people said gas had also been leaking from the ONGC’s gas well located in the area.

“The gas coming out of the ground has a very strange smell. We checked the entire area and found that gas is coming out from an underground pipeline connected to a gas well that belongs to the ONGC,” said Yakub Ansari, a local resident. He further claimed that when a person threw a lighted matchstick at spot from where gas was coming out, it caused a minor explosion.

Preliminary investigation has indicated that the gas is methane. The district administration has ordered an enquiry into the phenomenon.

"We have asked ONGC officials and the departments concerned to conduct a probe into the matter. We are awaiting the reports and will take necessary action after that. There is currently no risk to human life in the area," said RM Jadhav, mamlatdar of Olpad.