A catastrophic collapse while digging a tubewell releases a torrent of underground water and gas, inundating wide areas and causing panic.

The incident took place in the Mohangarh canal area in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, northern India on December 28.

Visuals show a fountain of water bursting from the ground, causing the earth to collapse and sink the drilling machine and truck, turning the field into a pond. The water flow appears unstoppable, leaving a deep trench in the area and forming a pond-like structure.

At 850 feet deep, a sudden eruption of water and gas burst from the ground, likely caused by a breach of an underground reservoir, creating a 10-foot-high jet of water. Dr Narayan Das Inkhiya, a groundwater scientist, suggested this could indicate the ancient flow of the Saraswati River.

 

The Deputy Tehsildar and Executive Magistrate of Mohangarh, Lalit Charan, issued a public notice preventing people and cattle from approaching within a 500-metre radius. A temporary police post has been set up to enforce the evacuation order. Charan also stated that technical assistance is being sought from oil and gas officials to resolve the issue. The pit continues to erupt with water, mud, and gas, leaving a distinct gas odor, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.