Massive fire at Baghjan oil well in Assam: Two killed, NDRF team deployed

Dispur, Ta. 10 June 2020 Wednesday

Two people were killed in a blaze at a garden oil well in Assam's Tinsukia district on Tuesday. Gas had been leaking uncontrollably from the well for 14 days. An NDRF team is present to rectify the situation.

The fire in the oil well of Oil India Limited is so fierce that it can be seen from a distance of more than 30 km. Smoke billows up to a height of several meters. The aftermath of the May 27 eruption has damaged the surrounding biodiversity.

A firefighter from ONGC, a public sector undertaking to extinguish a well, was seriously injured. According to Oil India, it could take up to four weeks to contain the fire.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the phone and sought immediate help to put out the fire. The fire broke out in the well while a cleaning operation was going on there. The Center has assured Sonowal of all possible help. He said the Air Force is ready to help if needed.