Fire Erupts at ONGC Offshore Site Near Yanam, Extinguished Safely

A dramatic fire broke out near an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) offshore operation off Yanam in the early hours of Friday, August 22, 2025, but was swiftly extinguished with no reported casualties or property damage. The blaze, which illuminated the night sky with a striking red-orange fireball, occurred around 1:10 a.m., approximately 400 meters from the shoreline near Dariyalatippa village in Kakinada district.

According to ONGC, the fire stemmed from a natural gas leak in a pipeline connected to an offshore rig in the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin, located in the Bay of Bengal. The leak caused flames to erupt on Dariyala Dippa Island-3, alarming local residents. Yanam Regional Administrator R. Mounissamy attributed the incident to high-pressure gas leakage, which sparked the fire. Prompt action by ONGC authorities, who halted the gas supply from the KG Basin rig by 3:30 a.m., ensured the blaze was fully extinguished, bringing the situation under control.

Police and fire service personnel rushed to the scene after villagers alerted authorities, assisting in containment efforts. Yanam Superintendent of Police Chinta Kodandaram confirmed the situation was stabilized, with no injuries or damage reported. As a precautionary measure, ONGC temporarily suspended nearby operations to assess and secure the infrastructure.

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Videos capturing the fiery spectacle went viral on social media, showing a glowing sky over the Bay of Bengal, underscoring the incident’s intensity. The pipeline, which spans 23 km from the offshore rig to the onshore processing plant in Yanam, Puducherry, is critical to ONGC’s operations in the region. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the leak to prevent future incidents.

This incident adds to the history of operational challenges for ONGC in Andhra Pradesh, following events like the 1995 Pasarlapudi blowout, though no casualties occurred in this case. The swift response highlights improved safety protocols, ensuring minimal impact on the local community and environment.

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