Panic grips Rajasthan's Kau Kheda village as crude oil seeps from farmer's field

JAISALMER: Panic gripped Kau Kheda village in Rajasthan’s Barmer district after the ground suddenly cracked and crude oil began seeping from a farmer’s private field near the Aishwarya Wellpad, operated by Cairn Oil & Gas, a unit of Vedanta Limited.

The crude oil leak reportedly began on 23 February and has continued for nearly 72 hours, with oil still emerging from the ground on the third consecutive day. Company personnel have dug a pit and, using temporary arrangements, are transferring the crude oil into tankers. So far, more than 50 tankers have reportedly been removed from the site. Experts from the company are working to control the leak.


According to available information, the seepage began suddenly in the field of farmer Harjeeram Khoth, spreading across nearly one bigha of land. The company was informed, after which a technical team of engineers arrived at the spot. A trench of about 100 metres has been excavated near the leak to channel the oil into a pit, from where vacuum tankers are collecting it.

The exact source of the leakage has not yet been identified. As a precautionary measure, the company has temporarily halted oil production and stopped flow from nearby pipelines.

The affected farmer said his field had been severely damaged, with crops destroyed and the soil turning oily. He has demanded compensation for his losses. Villagers also alleged that flammable gas emissions and crude oil mixed with groundwater have been reported in nearby tubewells. They further claimed that frequent blasting in the area to maintain pressure has caused cracks in houses, creating fear among residents.

In a statement, a company spokesperson said: “On 23 February 2026, a liquid leak occurred near Aishwarya Well Pad-08. The leak was confined to a very small area, which has been isolated to ensure public safety. Our technical and operations teams acted promptly to investigate the cause, secure the site, and begin liquid evacuation immediately.

“We have implemented all necessary containment measures, and the surface soil from the affected area is being transported to our facility for safe disposal. Continuous monitoring of the site is underway, and further assessment and remediation actions are being conducted in accordance with applicable environmental norms and standard operating procedures.

“We have informed the relevant authorities and stakeholders about the incident.”


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