The gas fire emanating from a tube well hole in Inani, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar has shifted its position, with the flame height decreasing compared to earlier. The fire originated on October 27 at around 7:00 am when tube well drilling was underway in the courtyard of Mostafa Sikder's house near the small bridge on Inani Marine Drive. The blaze has continued burning for 15 consecutive days without being extinguished.
Incident Details
According to upazila administration sources, Section 144 has been imposed over a 200-square-meter area around the incident site due to the risk of accidents as gas emission continues unabated. The restriction has disrupted normal life in several villages and hampered local economic activities. Residents are spending their days in fear and anxiety.The prolonged burning has sparked discussions about the possibility of underground natural gas reserves or a new gas field in the area. A nine-member technical team from Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) arrived at the site on Tuesday at around 11:00 am. After several hours of observation, the team began efforts to extinguish the fire.
Bapex Technical Team's Observation
Upon arrival, the Bapex technical team conducted observations for several hours. During the monitoring period, they noted that the fire's position had shifted and the flame height had reduced compared to before. The team is continuing efforts to implement necessary measures to extinguish the blaze.Meanwhile, the prolonged burning over 15 days has created anxiety among local residents. The imposition of Section 144 has restricted movement in the area, and local economic activities have been disrupted.
Experts suggest that if underground natural gas reserves exist, it could present a significant opportunity for the country. However, more detailed surveys are required for confirmation. It is anticipated that the Bapex technical team will begin work on identifying the gas source after extinguishing the fire.
