Natural gas emits with cracking sound in Chilmari char

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RANGPUR, Dec 10 (BSS): Sensation has been created among the people of Chilmari Upazila in Kurigram district following continuous emission of 'natural gas' with cracking sound automatically from the soil in recent days, officials and locals said.
The emitting gas instantly catches fire and burns like natural gas and hundreds of people from char areas and other places as well as journalists have been visiting the scene and witnessing the phenomenon. People of the locality feel that if natural gas in quality is found it may usher in a new era in the area.
The gas has been coming out of the huge area of 'Natun Char' that emerged very recently covering over 300 acres of land and about three kilometres east of Fakirerhat River Ghat in Raniganj Union of Chilmari Upazila.
The site is in the hardly reachable char area on the riverbed about 10 kilometres to the northeast from Chilmari town and about 20 kilometres southeast from Ulipur Upazila town on the Kurigram-Chilmari Road.
UNO of Chilmari Enamul Haque said Thursday noon, "I have already gathered information about the phenomenon in the char area and I'm preparing to visit the spot."
While talking to the news agency from the spot, local chairman of Raniganj Union Parishad Abdul Karim Miah said that he had been inspecting the spot and would submit a complete report on the matter to the UNO shortly.
Local Union member Aynal Haque and eyewitness Bachchu Mina (37) of nearby Fakirerhat Baganbari village told the agency that the gas emission was first seen a week ago when a group of people disolaced by river erosion went there for planting Boro seedlings.