Probe ordered into gas, mud eruption
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 12 2024: Imphal West district administration has asked ailing and people with health issues to shift to safer places after the eruption of a mixture of gas and mud in Langthabal Kunja Awang Leikai area since Saturday created a potential hazard.

On Sunday the district administration said that the flare-up of a mixture of gas and mud was largely controlled but efforts were on to fully end it.

According to district magistrate Kiran Kumar, the eruption occurred on the homestead land of one Yurembam Manihar as workers were digging to set up a hand pump for domestic use, affecting the environment, including air quality.

The situation is currently under inspection by a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and technical experts to find out the causes, the composition of erupted material, and the consequences of the incident on lives and the environment.

The situation is under proper scientific observation, the DM said in an order, adding that to avoid any potential hazards to the lives of the people living in the vicinity, they are advised to take certain precautionary as well as preventive actions.

Considering the circumstances, people (especially those having breathing issues due to asthma or past Covid-19 history, small children or infants, or those in advanced stages of pregnancy), residing in the vicinity of the location (within a radius of 100 metres), were instructed to shift to a safer place untilfurther instruction.

The vegetation grown in the area should not be consumed without proper washing during this period before further instructions, it added.

Meanwhile, speaking to The People s Chronicle, a geologist explained that Manipur valley was once covered with lakes and swamps and is formed by filling up of the wetlands.

Formation of gases such as methane, ethane, and propane from plants buried millions of years ago is natural.

As such, eruption of gases while digging of soil in valley areas will occur occasionally.

The geologist further said that the volume of gas which will be erupted cannot be known until a thorough research is conducted.

The gas is similar to cooking gas used every day.

As such, people need not fear over the eruption of such gas, the geologist allayed.

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