Specialised teams from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) have been deployed from Delhi and Mumbai to contain a massive gas well blowout that has been burning since January 5 in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh. The blaze, which erupted at the Mori-5 gas well near Mori and Irusumanda villages, shot flames nearly 20 metres high and spread across a width of about 25 metres following a gas leak, prompting the evacuation of over 450 residents from nearby habitations.
Officials said the intensity of the fire has now reduced, with ONGC crews currently engaged in clearing debris around the site to gain a clear line of sight of the well. Konaseema joint collector T. Nisanthi said a detailed plan of action would be finalised once firefighters assess the situation, including whether the well can be capped or if assistance from US-based well-control specialists Wild Well Control would be required. A blowout refers to the uncontrolled release of oil or gas due to failure of pressure control systems at a well.
Meanwhile, district officials said evacuees from Mori and Irusumanda villages have been accommodated in relief centres, with residents given the option to remain there or return home depending on safety assessments. The incident has once again brought into focus the growing unease among local communities over oil and gas exploration in the Konaseema region, where repeated blowouts and pipeline bursts have disrupted lives and livelihoods.
Villagers said coconut plantations have been destroyed in the fire, while fears persist over proposed infrastructure works cutting through paddy fields. Residents have demanded adequate compensation, alleging that past payouts were meagre and failed to cover actual losses. Many farmers said recurring accidents linked to exploration activities have left them living in constant fear, threatening agriculture-based livelihoods that once sustained the region.
