Hubballi: A fire emanating from a borewell on Kulali road of Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot district has created panic among farmers. The incident has also generated curiosity among villagers who are visiting the place in large numbers to witness it. Many of them have started cooking food on the flames coming from the 300 ft deep borewell. Farmer Bheemappa Golabavi had drilled the borewell three years ago to irrigate his two acres of farmland.
The borewell, adjcacent to a pond, remained unused for the past few months. Farmers noticed flames coming out of it three days ago. The fire continued to emerge despite efforts by villagers to extinguish it. Later, they brought it to the notice of mines and geology department officials who collected water samples fro m the adjacent pond. “A similar incident was reported at Nagaral in Mudhol taluk three years ago. We suspect that the release of effluents and molasses from sugar factories may be the reason for sudden fire. We are inspecting the surrounding borewells,” Bagalkot deputy commissioner P.A. Meghannavar said. Geologists claim that the fire is due to methane emanating from decomposed organic matter. They warned that consumption of food cooked on the fire will be hazardous to health. Officials said there is a deposit of limestone in the earth surrounding the area.
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