GUWAHATI: A contractual worker lost his life and four others sustained injuries in a pipeline explosion at an Oil Collecting Station (OCS) in Duliajan, Dibrugarh district on February 14.
The incident unfolded during repair operations in the heart of the township where the OIL Field Headquarters is situated.
The deceased, identified as contractual worker Rabin Orang, succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital.
Among the injured, one is a contractual employee, while the remaining are OIL employees, the local press reported.
Two of the injured have been transferred to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for advanced medical treatment, while the others received care at the OIL Hospital in Duliajan.
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An OIL spokesperson told a local daily that the explosion occurred during maintenance work on a pipeline valve, emphasising that the blast stemmed from a mechanical fault.
The incident has prompted OIL authorities to launch a thorough investigation to prevent future mishaps and enhance safety measures.
The event resonates with a previous disaster at an OIL gas well in Baghjan in May 2020, where uncontrolled gas leakage ignited a fire, claiming three lives.
A collaborative effort involving multiple agencies successfully extinguished the blaze on November 15, prompting the abandonment of the well on December 3.
The incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety protocols in industrial operations to mitigate risks and safeguard the lives of workers.
