Natural gas pipeline leaks in Rohtak

A piped natural gas (PNG) pipeline, which supplies cooking gas, developed a leakage at Kheri Sadh village in Rohtak district on Friday.

As per official sources, the leakage was caused due to some construction work being carried out by the Irrigation Department.

“An earthmoving machine deployed for the conversion of a pipe culvert into a box culvert was digging earth when the equipment hit the pipeline and led to leakage,” said sources. Nonetheless, the Irrigation Department officials controlled the situation and informed the officials of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), which supplies PNG through the pipeline.

“We also informed the police and the fire brigade. The area was cordoned off and traffic diverted to prevent any untoward incident,” said Arun Munjal, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department.

He pointed out that the notice board indicating that a pipeline was passing through the area was missed by the earthmoving machine operator/contractor as it was installed at some distance from the point of occurrence.

“However, the situation was brought under control soon in coordination with the officials concerned of the BPCL and other departments concerned,” he asserted.

The BPCL officials got a pit dug and filled it with water to contain the leakage. Fire engines and a police party also reached the spot soon after being informed of the leakage. The officials concerned got the gas supply stopped from the source, following which the leaking pipeline was repaired.

Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off and vehicular traffic diverted through other routes. As per the officials concerned, PNG is not as highly inflammable as LPG and hence does not pose much risk. “However, its leakage does lead to wastage of fuel and stoppage of PNG supply in order to repair the pipeline also causes inconvenience to the residents who are dependent on gas for cooking,” said officials.