GUWAHATI: A swift response from Oil India Limited (OIL) managed to bring an oil and gas rig in the Dighaltarang area of Baghjan village in Tinsukia district, under control after an alarming leak on Wednesday night.
Tinsukia district commissioner Swapaneel Paul confirmed to the press that the situation was swiftly contained with no reported damages thus far.
On the night of April 9, a gas pipeline uncontrollably discharged crude oil, gases, and condensates for nearly three hours, reigniting fears of another Baghjan-like catastrophe among villagers in the area.
Located near the banks of the Dangori River, which flows through the Dibru Saikhowa National Park, the leak prompted concerns about damage to water bodies, tea gardens, and agricultural farms.
Reportedly, approximately 600 residents near the rig found themselves affected by the leak.
The OIL swiftly got into action, deploying a team of experts who swiftly managed to plug the oil well by closing a valve, averted further escalation.
Though the OIL has initiated an on-spot assessment and an internal inquiry, the cause of the incident remains unclear, with villagers expressing anxiety over the lingering smell of condensate, reminiscent of the previous catastrophe.
Understandably, the incident left residents on edge, vividly recalling the devastating 2020 Baghjan blowout and oil fire that ravaged the area for days.
On May 27, 2020, an abrupt and uncontrollable gas release occurred from an oil-producing well operated by the public sector unit OIL, near Baghjan village.
The situation escalated on June 9 when the well erupted into flames. Located less than a kilometer from the Dibru Saikhowa National Park and only 500 meters from the wetland Maguri-Motapung Beel, designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA), the fire was doused after five
After burning for five-and-a-half months, the fire was eventually extinguished. However, reports indicate that the damage inflicted upon the environment is substantial.
