THINK Gas urges State agencies to ‘Dial Before You Dig’

Against the backdrop of a recent gas pipeline leak during roadwork in the capital, THINK Gas, the agency that implements the city gas project in Thiruvananthapuram, has intensified its public safety awareness efforts across its operating areas in the State, encouraging government authorities, contractors, utility agencies and third-party excavation vendors to follow safe digging practices and check in with the company before undertaking excavation work near underground gas pipelines.

The efforts follow a recent incident at Edavilakom Road, Murukkumpuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, where a THINK Gas pipeline was damaged by a third-party contractor during excavation work related to boundary wall construction. The agency’s emergency teams brought the situation under control quickly, but the incident — which occurred despite clearly visible route markers and warning signage already in place — showed how easily damage can happen when digging goes ahead without first checking what lies underground, said the agency.