Tension prevailed after natural gas leaked from a well while it was being drilled by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at its rig at Pasarlapudi Lanka village of Maamidikuduru mandal in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. The incident occurred at around 7.45 p.m. on July 9 within the limits of the ONGC Rig No.2000-3.

On being alerted by the locals about the incident, the district officials rushed to the spot and directed the ONGC authorities to stop the ongoing drilling activity with immediate effect.

In a joint press conference held on Thursday (July 10, 2025), Amalapuram Revenue Divisional Officer K. Madhavil has said: “The natural gas leaked from a well at a depth of 2,866 metres. The ONGC has drilled the well over the past 77 days. The incident occurred when another 46 metres of digging would have completed the drilling of the well.”

ONGC Representative M. Raghu Menon has said in the press conference that the drilling activity has been halted and is expected to be resumed soon in consultation with district officials. “There is no need to panic about the incident and the leak has been plugged safely”, said Mr. Raghu Menon.