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GUWAHATI/DIBRUGARH: The gas leak at an ONGC well in the Sivasagar district has shaken all concerned, from Dispur to New Delhi, including the opposition.
The leak at an ONGC well at Bhatiapara since June 12 leaves the people residing nearby nearly nervous wrecks. They are fleeing the area for safe shelter.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reviewed the situation in New Delhi today. He said, “Reviewed and took an update on well-control activities being carried out by ONGC Ltd in the Sivasagar district. The gas flow continues unabated due to extraordinarily high pressure in the well. High-tech methods such as junk pumping are also being deployed, and ONGC officers are in constant touch with overseas experts.”
Puri further said, “Competent personnel have been brought from other work centres of ONGC, and very high-capacity fire pumps, frac pumps, muds, etc., are working the site to control the leak.”
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, who visited the site and interacted with the local populace, said, “We’re extremely worried over the ONGC gas leak and treating the situation cautiously. ONGC is trying its best but could not control it. This situation has brought normal activities in the nearby areas to a grinding halt. The situation will be disastrous if the leaking gas catches fire. I’m in touch with the Union Petroleum Minister in this regard.”
The Chief Minister said, “We’ve decided to support the affected families, who have been residing in relief camps, with Rs 25,000 for each family from the Chief Minister’s relief funds. This is an immediate help, and they will compensate later as per the guidelines. ONGC informed me that efforts are underway to bring a specialist from the USA to control the gas leak.”
Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also met the affected people and took stock of the situation. He also took up the matter with Union Petroleum Minister Puri and sought urgent intervention in the ONGC gas leak incident.
“I hope that ONGC will act with greater urgency to fully contain the leak, restore public safety and conduct a thorough investigation into the lapses that led to the disaster. Residents in the camp, particularly children and students, are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, and asthmatic issues. The current crisis in Bhatiapara has revived those painful memories of the 2020 Baghjan disaster in the Tinsukia district,” the APCC president said.
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