Gas leak from oil rig affects hundreds of tea workers in Tinsukia, Assam

Guwahati, April 10: Once again, an oil and gas rig operated by Oil India Limited in the Dighaltarang area under Baghjan village in Tinsukia district spewed crude oil, gases and condensates uncontrollably for nearly three hours on Tuesday evening.

According to sources, an expert team from Oil responded immediately to the emergency and managed to plug the oil well by closing a valve, thereby stopping the leak. The incident sparked renewed fears among people living in the area, recalling the 2020 Baghjan explosion and oil fire that devastated the region.

According to locals, the leak occurred on the rig near the banks of the Dangori River, which flows through the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. “The damage to water bodies, tea gardens and farms is currently being assessed. People have become suspicious of oil producing wells. After the explosion and fire in 2020, people are constantly living in fear and anxiety,” said a villager.

“The incident occurred at around 11.30 p.m. in a production oil well costing BGN 24 due to technical defects. By 2.20 am, the leakage was contained,” an official said. The oil leak affected at least 600 residents living near the rig, raising major concerns about their safety and well-being.

Currently, the villagers of Baghjan and Natun Rongagora are fighting a compensation case in the Supreme Court of India and the NGT.
According to villagers, the Tinsukia district administration failed to adequately compensate people after the 2020 disaster despite orders of the Supreme Court and NGT.

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