A gas leak at the intersection of Second Street and B.B. King Road prompted an emergency response following the accidental strike of an unmarked, abandoned gas line during routine sewage repairs.
On Friday, Nov. 21, the incident occurred around 10:20 a.m., with the City of Indianola’s Public Works Director Elvis Pernell reporting that Atmos, the local gas company, was notified within minutes and responded swiftly to secure the site.
Despite prior utility marking by 811, which correctly indicated active gas lines running east and west, an old line running north and south beneath B.B. King Road was not detected or marked. Workers, as a matter of standard procedure, were digging beside the marked lines rather than atop them. The presence of the unmarked, inactive line led to its puncture as crews attempted to repair a nearby sewer main. Consequently, there was a backflow of natural gas into Karen’s Kitchen, a business located nearby, through the drain and sewage system.
Throughout the day and night, the Indianola Police Department and Fire Department maintained a security perimeter at the site, ensuring public safety while repairs were underway. Assistant Fire Chief Bill Alford emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting residents: “It is our primary responsibility to help ensure and make sure that the citizens of Indianola are safe.”
According to Pernell, after the gas company arrived, technicians isolated and capped off the abandoned line, preventing further risk. While the initial puncture required urgent attention, sewer line repairs continued into early Saturday morning, after which the excavation was filled and the site restored.
This incident underscores the importance of thorough utility mapping and line marking—especially with aging infrastructure—and the need for swift, coordinated responses by local officials to safeguard the community.
