A sudden leak from an underground natural gas pipeline in Vasco da Gama triggered significant alarm among residents and commuters on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at Alto-Dabolim, directly opposite the naval armament depot, forcing a swift emergency response.
Excavation Work Leads to Pipeline Damage
The source of the trouble was excavation work being carried out for a service road as part of a flyover project. A JCB machine, deployed by a contractor working for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), accidentally struck the pipeline operated by IndianOil-Adani Gas Pvt. Ltd. (IOAGPL). The leakage was reported to have started at around 9:50 am.
Emergency Response and Containment
Local fire and emergency services were alerted after people in the vicinity detected a powerful and unpleasant odor of gas. Fire personnel rushed to the site immediately. According to a fire official, the situation was brought under control promptly. "The leakage was immediately plugged," the official disclosed. He added that while the JCB caused the damage, the pipeline appeared to have been shut down by IOAGPL authorities as a precautionary measure. It was also revealed that the contractor had previously informed the gas company about the planned excavation work.
Official Response and Aftermath
When contacted for comment, IOAGPL official Sulabh Mehta declined to share specific details about the incident. "I am not authorised to comment on the incident, as a third party was involved in damaging the underground pipeline," stated Mehta. The event caused temporary disruption and panic in the area, highlighting the risks associated with excavation near utility lines. Fortunately, due to the quick action of the fire services and the presumed shutdown of the line, a major disaster was averted.
