Baghjan fire

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday assured the Assam government of providing all support and assistance to contain the fire at Baghjan gas well and control the damage.

Hours after a massive fire broke out in the production oil well of Oil India Limited (OIL) at Baghjansite, Pradhan spoke to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal regarding the gas well blowout.

He appraised Sonowal of the steps being taken and assured that all-out efforts are being made to contain the blowout at Baghjan oilfield at the earliest possible.

Also read: Baghjan fire puts biodiversity of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in danger

“The Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry and Oil India Limited are committed for the safety and well being of people of Assam,” said Pradhan in a telephonic conversation.

He said experts from a Singapore-based ALERT firm arrived on Sunday evening and have been pressed into action.

“A team of OIL officials led by CMD OIL have been at the site from day one to control the situation. Crisis management team of ONGC is also on the ground to further emergency response,” an official of the MoPNG ministry said.

During the day, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora criticized both the central and state governments alleging negligence on the gas emission issue of the Baghjan-based oil well.