Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: A gas leakage incident triggered panic at Vales junction on Wednesday afternoon after an underground pipeline was accidentally ruptured during excavation work. The situation, however, was brought under control swiftly, averting any major mishap, with no loss of life or damage to nearby property reported.
Sources said the incident occurred when a contractor, while carrying out excavation work, punctured an underground gas pipeline, leading to a loud sound followed by a significant release of gas into the air. The sudden leakage caused tension among residents and commuters in the area.
The contractor and officials of the National Highway Authority of India immediately alerted the fire station as well as the principal company operating the gas pipeline. Acting promptly, the pipeline operator shut down the main gas supply, rushed a technical team to the spot and carried out repair work to plug the leakage.
“The main supply was immediately stopped and repair work was undertaken without delay. The contractor must exercise utmost caution during excavation, as this is a highly sensitive stretch. Apart from the gas pipeline, the area also has a main fuel pipeline connecting the port to the fuel depot at Sancoale,” a source said, adding that the same contractor had earlier damaged water pipelines, electrical cables and even a fuel pipeline in the past.
Normalcy was restored soon after the repairs, and authorities continued to monitor the area to ensure safety.
