Kendrapara: The chance discovery of natural gas from a tube well in a remote village in the district has left the area residents worried.

The emission of gaseous substances was reported at a newly-dug tube well at Badakalabuda village in Patkura police station limits. Gas emanating from the hole caught fire when a match was struck.

A large number of people made a beeline to see the tube well on fire. Eventually, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot to douse the fire.

The fire started when a ceremonial ritual was being performed before the use of water from the tubewell. The lighting of an incense stick by a match stick led to the fire. The fire was not big but a pungent smell pervaded the air and made those present panicky, said local sarpanch Prakash Sahu.

"With caustic smell of gas spreading, the puja ritual was suspended. We are in a state of panic. Fire personnel assured us not to get worried. We have been told it's a thin source of natural gas," he said.

"I am scared to use the tube well. I spent nearly Rs 40,000 to dig the well to meet to our drinking water needs. We will use the well after competent authorities inspect the tube well and says the water is safe to use," said Maguni Sahu, 40, who had dug out the tube well in his backyard.

A district fire official said that the volume of gas locked up in the rocky layer beneath the tube-well's water source was limited. Consequently, things should be fine once the gas cleared.