Ukhiya, Oct 28 (V7N) – A fire broke out after a strong flow of gas-like substance emerged from underground during deep tubewell drilling in a residential yard in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday morning. The fire continued to burn for hours, prompting authorities to suspend electricity supply through a nearby 33,000-volt transmission line as a safety measure.

The incident occurred around 7am at the house of Mohammad Abdullah, north of the Inani Chhara canal. The drilling had reportedly reached a depth of nearly 1,000 feet when the substance began escaping from underground and subsequently caught fire.

As of around 1pm, the flames had continued for approximately six hours. Firefighters were working to contain the blaze, but the strong flow of the substance had prevented them from extinguishing it completely.

The incident sparked concern among local residents, while crowds gathered to watch the flames. Authorities strengthened security around the site to prevent accidents and facilitate firefighting operations.

Local sources said work to install the deep tubewell had been underway for about a week beside Abdullah’s house. He is the son of Habibullah, a former chairman of Baharchhara Union Parishad in Teknaf.

Abdullah said workers were drilling in the yard when the gas-like substance suddenly began emerging from underground at around 7am. The material subsequently ignited, prompting him to contact the Fire Service.

Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Officer Saidul Islam said two firefighting units had been deployed after receiving the report. He said the intense flow had made it difficult to bring the fire fully under control, although measures were being taken to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby areas.

He noted that residential houses and tourist routes were located nearby, making it essential to contain the fire and keep people away from the site.

The nearby 33,000-volt electricity transmission line raised additional safety concerns. The power supply was suspended to reduce the risk of an accident while the fire continued beneath the line.

Ukhiya Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abu Abdullah said he had been at the scene since the incident occurred, but the fire had not yet been brought under control. A technical team from Dhaka was on its way to the site, he added.

Witness Siraj said he saw the flames burning intensely in the early morning and alerted the Fire Service. He said the heat appeared to be increasing as the fire continued.

Beach worker Belal Uddin also expressed concern about the rising heat and the difficulty of controlling the flames.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter said law enforcement personnel were working to control crowds and maintain security around the site. She said the administration had taken necessary steps to protect people and prevent the fire from spreading.

She also confirmed that electricity supply had been suspended because of the intense flames beneath the high-voltage transmission line. A team from the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) had left for the site to assess the situation, she said.

The nature of the substance emerging from the ground has yet to be scientifically confirmed. Experts say technical testing is necessary to determine whether it is natural gas and whether the area contains an underground gas reserve.

The incident has raised questions about the possibility of previously unidentified underground gas resources in the Inani area. However, any conclusion about the presence or commercial potential of a gas deposit will depend on a proper geological assessment and scientific investigation.

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