A major gas leak from an operational oil well run by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) caused panic in a village in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday.

The incident took place at an ONGC oil well located in Irusumanda, in the Razole area of Konaseema. Officials said the well was temporarily not producing oil, and repair work was being carried out using a workover rig.

During the repair process, a sudden and powerful blowout occurred. A large amount of gas mixed with crude oil shot high into the air, alarming workers and nearby residents.

Local officials said the leaked gas soon caught fire, with flames erupting at the site. Thick clouds of gas and smoke spread across Irusumanda and nearby villages, covering the area like dense fog.

As a safety step, authorities made announcements through loudspeakers asking people in at least three nearby villages to avoid using electricity, switching on appliances, or lighting stoves, to prevent further fire or explosions.

Panchayat officials and the local administration urged residents to leave the area immediately. Many villagers moved out of their homes and shifted their cattle to safer places as fear and tension spread.

Officials said these steps were taken only to protect lives and avoid any further accidents.

ONGC teams rushed to the spot to control the gas leak and put out the fire. The affected area has been cordoned off, and emergency measures are in place to ensure public safety.

Senior district officials and ONGC officers are currently present at the site and are closely monitoring the situation.

ONGC has a strong presence in the Krishna Godavari Basin, especially in East Godavari and nearby regions.

In Andhra Pradesh, ONGC operates through its Rajahmundry Onshore Asset and Eastern Offshore Asset. The company produces natural gas, crude oil, and other hydrocarbons from offshore rigs in the Bay of Bengal and from onshore fields in East Godavari.

Hydrocarbons from offshore platforms are transported through a network of subsea and onshore pipelines to processing facilities in Yanam and Mallavaram, with infrastructure also spread across areas like Tatipaka.

After processing, the gas is sent to national transmission networks, while crude oil is transported for further handling and refining at other locations.

Authorities said the situation is being closely watched, and safety remains the top priority.