The Patel Wadi chawl in the densely populated slum pocket of Kurla has suddenly turned into a source of attraction since Friday morning as locals, police, civic and oil company officials have started thronging the area.
The Patel Wadi chawl in the densely populated slum pocket of Kurla has suddenly turned into a source of attraction since Friday morning as locals, police, civic and oil company officials have started thronging the area.
The reason being the mysterious seepage of an oil-like substance from the underground of a couple of shanties and the approaching road of the chawl. The locals say that the oil seepage is increasing with heavy rains and subsides when it slows down.
Though the reason for the seepage has become a matter of investigation, it has been learned from the local residents that there used to be a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) fuel pipe at some distance from the said spot, but it was blocked and closed more then 15 years ago.
HPCL officials who conducted test on the liquid on Friday found it to be a mixture of kerosene and dark oil, though they are yet to ascertain its source. “The fact is that even if the seepage is indeed from the blocked pipeline, then how come it is happening after gap of so many years” said Anil Rane, a local from the area.
According to Neeta Srivastav, a housewife who first noticed the oozing of the oil at her home on Thursday evening said, “Initially, I thought it to be water leakage from the ground, as it happens during every rainy season. But soon I realised that the leaking liquid smelled like petroleum product.”
According to Neeta’s husband Vinod the smell from the oil was suffocating and was causing irritation in the eyes. To confirm, whether it a combustible fuel, the locals even set fire on a small amount of liquid. “We have been throwing buckets full of oil throughout the day and night from our house,” said Vinod.
The VB Nagar police stations and fire brigade department who were informed reached the spot to take stock of the situation. The liquid samples were taken away for testing by the officials of fire brigade department and HPCL. A Dhakne, the ward officer, L/West ward said. “The assistant engineer had visited the spot.
Investigation to trace its source is on.” “Our area has become a tourist spot and people from other areas are coming to have a look at the oil seepage,” said Sukanya Singh, a resident of the area.
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