Sivasagar: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for urgent intervention to control the gas leak from an ONGC crude oil well at Rudrasagar oil field in Sivasagar district, which has been spewing gas for seven days.
In a letter to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep S. Puri, the Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the efforts by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Sarma highlighted public concerns, stating that the response from ONGC has lacked the urgency and seriousness required for a situation of this magnitude.
Sharing his views on X, Sarma wrote, “Conveyed our concerns regarding the Barichuk Gas Blowout incident to Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji. I have requested him to direct @ONGC_ to step up well control efforts in mission mode so that the situation doesn’t aggravate further.”
The blowout occurred on June 12 at Well No. RDS 147 of Rig No. SKP 135, operated by private contractor SK Petro Services on behalf of ONGC.
Over 330 families have been evacuated from the affected area and are being provided relief by the state government.
In his letter, Sarma pointed out that despite efforts such as water blanketing, high-volume mud pumping, and junk shots, the gas pressure persists, leaving the well active.
The prolonged incident has caused distress among local communities, who have been relocated for safety reasons.
Sarma emphasised that ONGC’s current approach appears procedural rather than proactive.
He urged Puri to direct the corporation to enhance its technical efforts, bolster leadership presence at the site, and increase engagement with affected communities to rebuild confidence.
Meanwhile, the Assam government announced financial aid of Rs. 25,000 each to around 350 families affected by the blowout.
Sarma also visited the site earlier this week to assure residents that their concerns would be addressed at the highest level.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep S. Puri reviewed the situation and stated that ONGC has deployed advanced methods such as “junk pumping” and is consulting international experts to manage the crisis.
He assured that cooling measures, including a continuous water blanket, are being maintained to prevent a fire.
An ONGC official confirmed that gas leakage continues despite efforts to kill the well.
“The gas pressure has not increased in the last few days, and we are hopeful for a resolution soon. Emergency services are on-site, and there have been no injuries or fire incidents,” the official said.
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The Sivasagar district administration reported that air pollution levels remain within acceptable limits, and monitoring by the Pollution Control Board of Assam is ongoing.
The well, an old crude oil site, was undergoing a perforation job for zone transfer when the blowout occurred.
The chief minister reiterated the need for a mission-mode approach to resolve the crisis swiftly and restore normalcy to the affected region.
