Niko officials had earlier detected the contamination of tubewell water and asked the locals not to use it.

They marked 77 tubewells in the areas around the gas field for their arsenic-contaminated water about a month ago when they were preparing to start drilling of the relief well that suffered the June 24 explosion and consequent fire.

The Canadain company or the local authorities are yet to take any steps to mitigate the miseries of the locals many of whom had to leave their houses on safety grounds following the blowout and fire.

Shop owners at Tengratila bazar adjacent to the gas field said Niko have declared one square kilometre area as 'danger zone' and we cannot keep our shops open to earn a living. "We do not know when the situation will be normal, and even the company people cannot say anything about it," one of them said in utter frustration.

Meanwhile, reports that the Canadian company is going to drill a fresh relief oil to seal the main well damaged in the January 8 blowout and fire have intensified panic among the people of Tengratila area.

Public protest against allowing the company to operate further at this gas field mounted amid fears of further disaster if Niko's operation continued.

Rallies and demonstrations were held yesterday and the day before in different areas including Sylhet city demanding an end to 'irresponsible activities' of the Canadian company that led to repeated blowouts at the same gas field.

Different organisations demonstrated at Tengrtaila on Wednesday to press the demand for immediate steps against Niko for the damage of gas resources and environment.

In Sylhet city, Greater Sylhet Gonodabi Parishad held a rally on the day to denounce Niko's 'destructive activities'.

At Tengratila, the blaze continued yesterday with flames leaping 220 to 250 feet amid moderate rainfall almost for the whole day. The area experienced jolts as on the previous four days.