Guwahati: The explosion and fire at Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) at Tengakhat in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district have renewed concerns over industrial safety, contractor practices and regulatory oversight.
The death toll rose to four by Sunday after three more workers succumbed to their burn injuries sustained in the explosion and fire. The incident has also raised concerns over safety arrangements at oil installations across Assam.
The latest victim was identified as Sailen Gogoi (45), a resident of Padumoni village in Tengakhat, who died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dibrugarh. The other victims included Tapas Jyoti Gogoi (40), an engineer, and Rupam Gohain, both employed by Spectron Engineering Private Limited, OIL’s operations and maintenance contractor. Raju Dutta (46) was the first to die, shortly after the accident on Friday.
Nine workers were present at the installation when the accident occurred on Friday. Seven sustained injuries, while two escaped unharmed. The workers who escaped were Phanit Gogoi (36) of Chenibil village in Dighaliya and Panchanan Changmai (41) of Bhajani village.
Explosion occurred during maintenance work
The fire broke out in the Indirect Bath Heater (IDBH) area around 9.05 am. Workers were carrying out maintenance at the time. The equipment had remained isolated for maintenance since November 4.
An explosion occurred while workers operated a valve, triggering the blaze. However, OIL has not officially confirmed the cause of the explosion.
OIL area manager Kamal Phukan confirmed Gogoi’s death on Saturday. A senior Spectron Engineers official said the company was monitoring the injured workers’ condition. He also said the company was ready to arrange advanced medical treatment if necessary.
“Devastated by their death. They were coworkers. There are several others who are receiving treatment. Some of them are critical, as far as I know. If the doctors here advise us to take them for advanced medical care, then we are ready to provide that,” the official said.
The intense fire and thick smoke prompted the district administration to evacuate a nearby village. Police and administrative personnel asked residents to move to safer locations while firefighters battled the blaze.
OIL immediately activated its fixed firefighting system. It also deployed fire tenders, including a Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) tender. A total of 11 fire tenders joined the operation. Firefighters brought the blaze under control around 12.30 pm.
Senior OIL officials and Dibrugarh District Commissioner Bikram Kairi reached the site. The Superintendent of Police, Tengakhat Revenue Circle Officer and other administrative and security personnel also visited the installation.
Kairi said a detailed investigation would establish the actual cause of the accident. He added that the administration was discussing compensation for the deceased and injured workers with OIL.
OIL has formed an internal inquiry committee to investigate the accident. The panel will examine its immediate and underlying causes, assess the damage and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
Organisations demand compensation and stronger safety measures
The accident has drawn criticism from several organisations, including ATASU, AJYCP, ATSA and AASU. They have demanded adequate compensation for the victims and stronger safety arrangements at the installation and nearby villages.
A retired OIL official questioned the effectiveness of periodic safety audits. He alleged that a shortage of qualified safety inspectors had reduced inspection frequency and increased the workload of existing personnel.
“Dilution of safety norms is another factor. The intention is to get the work going, to increase productivity, bypassing safety norms,” he said.
The former official also alleged that companies deployed untrained contractual workers at hazardous sites without adequate personal protective equipment.
“Untrained contract labourers are often made to work at hazardous sites, and personal protective equipment is rarely provided to them,” he said.
He further raised concerns about ageing industrial infrastructure. According to him, cost-cutting had allowed obsolete equipment to operate beyond its prescribed lifespan. He also alleged that installations often lacked alarm sensors.
“Cost cutting mindset has resulted in using obsolete and lifespan completed equipments resulting in dangerous ground situation. Alarm sensors are invariably absent,” he said.
The former official also blamed weak and fragmented safety laws for bureaucratic apathy and attempts to shift responsibility after industrial accidents.
“Weak and fragmented laws resulted in bureaucratic apathy, and blame mongering,” he said.
“The real accident statistics are not reflected and factory owners rarely learn from safety disasters,” he added.
Tengakhat accident revives memories of Baghjan disaster
The Tengakhat accident has revived memories of the 2025 explosion at a private-sector ONGC rig in Bhutiapara, Sivasagar district. That incident killed one person and caused considerable damage to the surrounding area.
It has also brought the 2020 Baghjan blowout in Tinsukia district back into focus.
On May 27, 2020, a gas well operated by Gujarat-based John Energy Drilling suffered a blowout at Baghjan. The company was working as a contractor for OIL. Gas and condensate escaped from the well, triggering a prolonged emergency.
The disaster caused extensive environmental damage around Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, the Dibru River and Maguri Beel. Several aquatic animals, including fish and turtles, died. A rare Schedule-I dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, was also found dead on May 29.
Around 3,500 people from 650 families had to leave their homes and move to relief camps. The affected villages included Baghjan, Natun Gaon, Barekuri and Dighaltarang. Residents feared exposure to the escaping gas.
The well caught fire on June 9, 2020. The blaze continued for 174 days.
Environment activist Apurba Ballav Goswami alleged that OIL’s negligence had contributed to the Baghjan disaster. He also questioned the progress of the police investigation.
“We visited the spot at Baghjan on June 8, 2020, and reviewed the situation. It was learnt that the incident occurred due to Oil India’s mistake. We went to Baghjan police station and lodged an FIR against the accused, including Oil India’s chairman. Baghjan police registered Case No. 29/2020,” he said.
Goswami alleged that the investigation had made little progress even after six years.
“Had the police investigated properly, those guilty of this terrible incident would have been caught. But for six years now, the case has remained stuck in red tape. Baghjan residents have had to approach the court seeking compensation,” he said.
The Baghjan disaster had also raised questions about regulatory oversight. Following the incident, the Pollution Control Board, Assam, issued a closure notice and shut down the rigs.
Contractor accountability and oilfield safety under scrutiny
The Tengakhat accident has once again placed private contractors’ safety practices under scrutiny.
Questions have emerged over whether companies handling high-risk maintenance and operational work have adequate technical expertise, trained personnel and essential safety equipment.
The growing role of private firms in the operations of public sector oil companies, including OIL and ONGC, has also attracted criticism.
Organisations and concerned groups are demanding independent safety audits and closer monitoring of contractors. They have also called for regular inspections of ageing equipment and accountability for safety violations.
With three workers dead and several others injured, the Tengakhat tragedy has renewed the focus on occupational safety at Assam’s oil installations. It has also highlighted concerns over contractor accountability and the enforcement of industrial safety regulations.