Thiruvananthapuram | A PNG gas pipeline was damaged during road construction work at Kumarapuram here on Tuesday afternoon, causing a leak.

An officer from Chackai fire station said that information of the gas leak was received around 12.50 pm and a team was immediately dispatched to the area.

He further said that the valve of the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) pipeline was closed immediately and the personnel of the fire and rescue service are overseeing the repair work.

"Once the remaining gas from the pipe is expelled, the repair work will be carried out," the officer said.

Local residents alleged that the pipeline should have been laid much deeper, and a major tragedy was averted due to God's grace.

BJP MLA V Muraleedharan, who reached the spot, said there was no need to be concerned as it was natural gas and would not catch fire easily.

"There might be temporary difficulty for people in the area who may have inhaled it," he said.

He said that it needs to be examined if the guidelines for laying the pipeline have been followed or not.

"I believe it has to be laid one meter below ground. It needs to be examined in detail. It also needs to be ensured that any such failure should not recur," the MLA said.