Massive fire at Assam’s Baghjan oil well
A massive fire engulfed the damaged Baghjan oil well on Tuesday, which has been spewing gas uncontrollably for the last 14 days in Assam’s Tinsukia district. Sources say the fire, that began this afternoon, may spread to adjoining areas.
The fire broke out at the well a day after three experts from a Singapore-based firm Alert Disaster Control had reached the site to attempt plugging the well. Firefighters have rushed to the spot and efforts are on to douse it.
A major blowout happened at the oil well, next to the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, following which gas started flowing out uncontrollably.
The district administration had evacuated thousands of people living nearby due to the spouting of natural gas and condensate droplets.
The oil well at Baghjan Tinsukia, about 500 kilometers from Guwahati, had a blowout on May 27 and has been leaking gas for the past 14 days, causing grave damage to the region’s wetlands and biodiversity.
Paddy fields, ponds and wetlands in the adjoining villages have also been contaminated and the threat is growing with every passing day. Several small tea growers in the area have also complained about layers of gas condensates in their tea gardens.
