Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013060040600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Srikalahasti ‘blowout’ ends in a whimper

Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI: The pit which was reportedly oozing ‘petrol’ for the last four days in the temple city of Srikalahasti on Tuesday went dry and is no longer burning. The petrol-spewing pit created such a sensation that it not only made the IOC despatch a team of engineers to the spot but also made the municipal and the police authorities cordon off the area amid fears of a possible ‘blowout’ any time.

Four days ago the people of the locality noticed some fluid oozing out of a pit near a dilapidated house in the town. With the fluid smelling like petrol some curious onlookers dropped a burning match stick into it. This instantly sent some low flames leaping up.

Heightened curiosity

With news about ‘petrol’ being struck engulfing the temple city, besides curious on-lookers and media, municipal and police authorities also landed at the scene for first hand information on the ‘petrol reserves’. What further heightened the curiosity was the smell of petrol coming from the water being supplied through the municipal taps in the locality.

Since the ‘petrol spot’ was located barely 200 yards from an IOC petrol pump, the immediate hunch was that the oozing could be due to a leakage from any of the three underground petrol tanks of the bunk.

This saw a three-member IOC team land at the petrol pump and excavate the whole area around the three tanks to detect any possible leakage.

But there was no visible leakage.