Leak in gas pipeline, hundreds evacuated to safety in Hassan

Hundreds of villagers were shifted to safety after a leak was detected from the gas pipeline near Chachapura Koppal in the taluk on Tuesday night.

According to sources, the leak was noticed on the pipeline of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), around 11 pm on Tuesday.

The residents of the villages, who suspected that the leak might be from their domestic LPG cylinders, found everything intact and later discovered that the gas leak was from the pipeline between Ankapura and Thamalapura near Mosalehosahalli, near Chachapura Koppal.

The news of gas leak spread like wildfire and the residents of the villages came out of their houses in fear and immediately alerted the police and Fire and Emergency Services department.

Repair undertaken

Deputy Commissioner V Chaitra, SP Rahul Kumar and HPCL officials rushed to the spot.  As a precautionary measure, the residents of Thamalapura, Thimmanahalli and Chachapura Koppal were immediately evacuated.

HPCL officials from Mangaluru have taken up repair works. The fire brigade personnel and the police are camping on the spot.

The supply of gas through the pipeline on Mangaluru-Hassan-Mysuru-Soluru route began on November 4.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, was clamped between 6 am and Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday, as a precautionary measure at Shanthigrama, Ambugodanahalli, Thamalapura, Guddada Teranya, and Chachapura Koppal villages.

Tahsildar R B Shivashankarappa told DH that lighting of crackers has been banned in the villages.

However, there will not be any kind of restriction on religious activities.
Efforts to contain the leakage are expected to continue till late on Wednesday, the tahsildar added.