Mangaluru (Karnataka), Jun 5 (PTI) A major accident was narrowly averted after an LPG gas pipeline belonging to HPCL was damaged by an earth mover during desilting work in a drainage channel on Friday, company officials said.
The incident occurred near Bailupete Mosque in Kandavara village in Mangaluru taluk of Dakshina Kannada district when an earth mover engaged in desilting a government drainage channel struck the underground pipeline, they said. Fortunately, no gas leak or fire was reported, officials said.
According to officials, the desilting work was sponsored by local entrepreneur Harish Shetty. During excavation, workers discovered that the HPCL LPG pipeline, which carries gas from Mangaluru towards Hassan, was laid at a relatively shallow
depth.
Residents alleged that the pipeline was installed barely two-and-a-half feet below the surface, making it vulnerable to accidental damage. They pointed out that pipelines belonging to GAIL and Petronet in the same area had been laid at much greater depths and were therefore safer.
Following complaints from villagers, HPCL Safety Officer Nayan Pal visited the site and conducted an inspection. Interacting with local residents, he said the pipeline had been laid around ten years ago and that changes in the area’s geographical conditions over the years could have reduced the soil cover above it.
Following the incident, the panchayat leaders of the village have urged HPCL to relay the pipeline at a minimum depth of 10 feet and provide a concrete protective cover above it to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Responding to the demand, Pal assured residents that the damaged section would be repaired immediately. He also said a report would be submitted to higher authorities regarding the feasibility of laying the pipeline at a greater depth. PTI COR AMP ADB
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