GUWAHATI: A suspected gas leak from a pipeline in Guwahati’s Ambikagiri Nagar on Tuesday, January 7, caused alarm among residents, despite assurances from Purba Bharti Gas Private Limited (PBGPL) that there was no actual gas in the pipeline.
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According to reports a strong smell of gas around 11 PM, which lingered for hours and heightened fears of a potential disaster. While fire tenders and Geetanagar police reached the scene to provide temporary relief, no senior officials from PBGPL arrived to take charge. Instead, a departmental driver resorted to a makeshift fix, covering the leaking section with polythene and bamboo strips.
Speaking to GPlus, a PBGPL official stated, "The public should not panic as there is no gas in the pipelines as of now. Flushing of air is ongoing, and the smell is from accumulated particles." The official assured that the pipeline is part of a project yet to commence operations, and there was no immediate threat.
The pipeline is part of PBGPL’s larger gas distribution network, which aims to serve around 10,000 residents in Noonmati in its first phase. While the main pipeline from Barauni to Panikhaiti has been completed, a 2-3 kilometre stretch to Noonmati remains unfinished.
Meanwhile, an official from Geetanagar police station said, "There was no gas in the pipeline and PBGPL mentioned it was a flushing process."
Residents expressed frustration over the lack of preparedness and the absence of clear communication. “If this is how issues are handled before the project is even operational, what can we expect when it actually starts?” asked a resident.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety protocols and crisis management of PBGPL, leaving residents sceptical about the project's readiness.