Terror-stricken Gamanpura villagers run for safety

Palanpur, Nov 28 (UNI) People of Gamanpura village were evacuated as water jets as high as 300 feet lashed the village with bolts from a tubewell flying all around and falling on roof tops.

The problem began in a tubewell last Friday at the village, 13 km from Mehsana and located at Behacharaji Road. The tubewell began sprouting water at high pressure that rose to 50 feet high.

The water has been flowing eversince. At the same time, another tubewell too began shooting water jets that smelt of oil.

Yesterday, the area around the well was cordoned off by the SRP jawans even as the villagers left their home and hearth to stay at their relatives houses in nearby villages.

Further drilling activities has been suspended under section 133 CRPC for 'Conditional order for removal of public nuisance,' Talking to UNI, District Collector Ajay Bhadu said, ''we have asked ONGC to stop immediately its activities which is at the root of the present problem.'' According to District Superintendent of Police Raju Bhargava ''special police contingent headed by a deputy superintendent of police has been deployed in the village to avoid any casuality.'' According to Sarpanch Ramesh K Makwana, ''entire village has migrated from the village.

With rich deposit of natural resources, Gamanpura has 45 ONGC gas wells where oil has been struck by the ONGC Mehasana. Work on well No 45 was in progress at the village until yesterday. The ONGC exploration could have led to contamination of the private borewells used for drinking and irrigation. These well are contaminated and are leaking oil.

UNI