Gas erupts during tube-well drilling in Cox's Bazar

Instead of water, natural gas has started spewing from a 1,000-foot-deep borehole drilled in Inani, Ukhia Upazila of Cox's Bazar.

A fire broke out around 6am on Tuesday in an area near a small bridge at Inani. Upon receiving the report, three units from the Fire Service arrived at the scene and are currently working to bring the blaze under control.

Belal Uddin, a supervisor for beach personnel under the district administration at Inani, told BSS that a man named Md. Abdullah is constructing a resort on his 20-decimal plot of land at Sikdarpara, Inani. Work on installing a tube-well to provide water for the resort had been going on for last 15 days. Drilling was halted three days ago after no water was found, even at a depth of approximately 1,000 feet.

Then, at around 6am on Tuesday morning, gas suddenly began to escape from the borehole at high pressure, igniting upon contact with nearby electrical wires.

Following the incident, three fire service units from Ukhia and Cox's Bazar sadar arrived at the scene around 8am and began efforts to extinguish the fire.

Confirming the incident, Syed Md Morshed Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of the Cox's Bazar Fire Service, said, "Our three units are working continuously to bring the fire under control. 

Additionally, an army fire team has been assisting with the containment efforts since 2:30pm. The intensity of the fire is heightened by the escaping gas. To prevent any untoward accidents, the electricity supply to the entire area has been temporarily suspended."
Meanwhile, local residents are gripped by intense panic, as the fire has persisted despite repeated attempts to smother it with sandbags and there are concerns that it could spread further. 

Concerned locals have called for the fire to be extinguished promptly and urging a geological survey to determine whether a significant gas reserve exists at the site.