in a grim reminder of the Pasarlapudi blow-out on January 8, 1995 (Down To Earth, Vol 3, No 18), a massive blow-out occurred on February 19, at the Mandapet exploratory oil rig of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ongc) at Pitanivarepalem on the outskirts of Devarapally village in Ravulapalem mandal of east Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. The blast, which occurred at midday, caused minor injuries to some workers on the rig and is feared to have destroyed crops.
Due to the tremendous impact of the blast, mangled remains of the rig were scattered all around within a radius of 20 m, with flames leaping as high as 100 m till late in the night. The site was unapproachable up to a radius of 300 m. Drilling operations at the site which commenced in December 1996, had progressed to a depth of 2,750 m.
Meanwhile, about 200 families in the adjoining areas of Thimappa Doddi, Rajugari Doddi, Peddagudapalem and Chinnagudapalem were evacuated. A team of ongc experts arrived at the accident site to assess and control the situation. A three-member team of us experts also arrived at the spot to tackle the fire and cap the rogue well. Analysts accused the ongc of serious laxity, especially after lessons of the Pasarlapudi blast.
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