Borewell drilling leads to rupture in PNG pipeline, blaze injures 4

Indore: Four persons suffered burn injuries after fire erupted following a rupture in Avantika Gas pipeline during drilling of a borewell near Suman Nagar Jain temple in Vijay Nagar area on Tuesday.The incident also disrupted gas supply to more than 10,000 households for nearly six hours.ACP Parag Saini said that the pipeline was damaged during borewell drilling in the area, triggering a gas leak.

Moments later, the escaping gas ignited, erupting into a massive fireball that sparked panic in the neighbourhood.Fire brigade and police teams reached the spot and brought the situation under control.Among the injured was travel and lifestyle influencer Girirajkumari Jhala, who was passing through the area on her two-wheeler when flames suddenly shot up from the damaged pipeline.Shyam, a man working at a vehicle repairing shop nearby suffered injuries on his hand while trying to save Jhala.

Two others including Subhash Thakur and Gopal Malakar who were also at the shop for some repair work, were also injured.“Subhash Thakur and Gopal Malakar suffered superficial burns covering 10-15% of their bodies, while Girirajkumari Jhala sustained more severe injuries, with 20-25% burns affecting her face, neck and torso.

All three have been admitted to Bombay Hospital and are under observation.

Their condition is stable and they are receiving treatment,” Bombay Hospital deputy director, Rahul Parashar, said.Avantika Gas marketing head Manish Verma said that the equipment used for borewell drilling was found at the site and no permission had been sought from the company before excavation.“The borewell was being dug for public use, but the work was carried out illegally on the road shoulder despite the presence of a clearly visible PNG marker indicating the gas pipeline beneath.

Those carrying out the work were aware of the pipeline, yet no information was given to Avantika Gas and excavation continued.

As a result, gas leakage occurred and three people sustained burn injuries.

The person operating the drilling machine fled the spot after hitting people in his attempt to escape.

Property worth lakhs of rupees has been damaged and gas supply to around 10,000 consumers has been disrupted.

This is not just about financial loss — someone could have lost their life,” Avantika Gas Ltd marketing head Manish Verma said.ACP Saini said that they were in the process of registering a case.IMC commissioner Kshitij Singhal, however, denied that a borewell was being dug and said that the workers were digging a recharge shaft to facilitate groundwater recharge. “According to preliminary information, the local corporator had suggested the location to the workers, saying that a recharge structure there would help improve groundwater levels.

Download the TOI App.