Danger lessens following Diamond eruption

Jun 17, 2018 News

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), a number of other agencies and public spirited citizens have started a cleanup at the natural gas explosion site at Diamond on the East Bank Demerara.

Explosion site aftermath.

The explosion resulted from the drilling of a well by Soownauth Gorakh last Thursday, at his premises at 1200 Fourth Street, Section A Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
The Diamond Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council, in a statement said, “As clean up continues aggressively by CDC, Diamond Grove NDC and neighbours of the recent incident in Diamond, Chairman of the NDC Mr Bharrat Narine has announced that an investigation by the NDC has commenced.”
Narine has praised the ‘true community’ spirit of the people who are helping Soownauth ‘Water Man’ Gorakh and his wife Tulabhaduree, to rebuild their lives after the unfortunate incident.
The NDC Chairman said that contrary to several reports the businessman and his three children aged 18, 15 and nine years old have not moved out of the community. They sought refuge from kind hearted neighbours who provided food, clothing and shelter.
The Ministry Public of Infrastructure (MOPI) in a statement yesterday said, “(MOPI) has commenced the clean-up exercise at the residence at Fifth and Sixth Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where a resident of the community had dug a well, resulting in an eruption of mud, water, methane gas and damage to several homes in the area.
The clean-up works, which are expected to last for approximately two days are being undertaken in an effort to give access to the Guyana and Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) teams, who will be working to recap the well.
Lieutenant Latchman Persaud of the National Emergency Operations System, Civil Defence Commission (CDC), who is overseeing the clean-up efforts, said that it is expected that the recapping works can commence on Monday.

Clean-up on the way at Diamond explosion site.

These works are expected to last between two to three weeks. He noted that all materials have already been procured and are on the ground.
Mitchell Prince, Senior Petroleum Analyst at the GGMC, said that the plan is to run two sizes of casings into the ground where the well has been dug.
“It is the reverse of drilling a well. The hole is already there, it is now to put the casings in and seal it off. We are going to use 18-inch casings on the outside and 14-inch diameter casings on the inside.”
The gas detection within the area remains low and has been constrained within the property and as such, a safe zone has been established.
Meanwhile, Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Craig, said that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has agreed to assist the affected neighbours in their clean-up efforts.
The Commission is also reminding persons that permits must be obtained from the Hydro meteorological office to conduct such drillings.
“If you are drilling wells you must receive permits from Hydro-meteorological Office because you can have situations like this that threaten your life, your neighbours’ lives and other people around you. You have to be careful and follow the rules. If you don’t you are going to put people’s lives at jeopardy,” Colonel Craig said.”

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