Rourkela: Oil spilled over to acres of farmland after a pipeline of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) developed a leak near Rama Bahal under Rajgangpur police limits in Rourkela on Monday night.
As soon as the news spread, people from nearby areas rushed to the spot and started carrying the spilled oil in buckets, utensils and other containers.
On receiving information about the matter, fire personnel and police were pressed into action along with the employees of IOCL to plug the leakage.
However, from initial inspection, it appears that the leakage was caused after some miscreants cut the pipeline passing from Paradip to Ranchi in an attempt to steal oil from it.
Efforts are on to assess the damage and restoration work is in progress, sources added.