Gujarat villagers reel under flooding from ONGC pipeline breach

Gamanpura (Gujarat), Dec 1: Residents of Gamanpura Village in Gujarat are reeling from floods caused by the gushing of underground water from ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) pipelines.

Buildings, homes and farmlands in and around the Mehsana district village have been inundated with silt and damaged crops.

Villagers have expressed their helplessness over the problems they are facing.

"The mud and sand that is coming from the underground is now all over our farmlands. All our farms have been destroyed. We do not know how we are going to survive and what we are going to grow,” said Jayant Patel, a farmer.

ONGC officials claimed that there was no emission of any harmful gases or chemicals due to the leakage.

They claimed that the leaked wells have been successfully blocked.

"This procedure has been on for the past nine days. ONGC people say they will do something, but nothing has been done," said Ramesh Makwana, the village head.

Reportedly, around 200 experts of the Well Stimulation Services, Institute of Reservoir Studies and Wire Line Services from Mumbai, Vadodara and Ankleshwar have been actively involved with the local asset team for the last week.

The crisis management team is trying to divert the air flow from shallow wells to nearby ONGC wells. (ANI)