Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Nov 17: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd's (HPCL) teams of experts from Mangaluru and Mumbai are finding it hard to contain a leak in the gas pipeline between Mangaluru and Bengaluru that has been completed till Solur. The pipeline ruptured near Jenukallu valley on Ankapura-Mosalehosahalli road in the taluk on Tuesday night. The experts had not been able to repair the section till Wednesday night.

The teams of experts arrived and identified the spot of leakage but they were unable to address the issue till the amount of leakage considerably reduced. They were waiting till Wednesday evening for the pressure to reduce. HPCL executive director, J S Prakash from Mumbai himself came down to the spot and led the team of experts, as this is considered to be a rare and serious incident.

On Tuesday night, LPG was seen spewing out like fountain to a height of six feet and the liquefied petroleum gas was seen flowing down by the small canals in adjacent agricultural fields. The villagers could see leaked LPG getting mixed with environment in moonlight on Tuesday night.

Policemen have banned vehicular movement on Mosalehosahalli-Ankapura route and posted policemen on all directions of the spot three kilometres away to ensure that no vehicular movement happens as it could be disastrous.

It came as a surprise that gas has leaked on this Mangaluru-Hassan-Solur pipeline of HPCL within ten days of its commissioning, although it is equipped with latest safety equipment. It is said that the experts could not properly gauge the exact spot of the pipeline that has been damaged and determine whether the leakage is due to technical reasons or whether thieves who had earlier stolen diesel and petrol by rigging the pipeline had tried to meddle with LPG pipeline. Only a proper investigation will be able to throw more light on these issues.

In view of this serious incident, taluk tahsildar, R B Shivashankarappa, on Wednesday, enforced prohibitory orders in Shantigram revenue division and Ambugondanahalli limits till November 17.