Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CM Sonowal reach Baghjan fire site to take stock of situation

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan have reached the site of the raging fire at the Baghjan no. 5 well.

Terming the situation as "frightening", Sonowal said that international experts as well as those from the OIL and the ONGC are engaged in trying to bring the fire under control.

Sonowal also said that he will visit the relief camps with the Union Minister to get feedback from the locals who have been affected.

It needs mention here that fire erupted at the blowout site on Tuesday last and two OIL firemen perished in the aftermath of the blaze. Meanwhile, OIL experts have opined that it could take them around 20 days to subdue the inferno.

According to the Oil India Limited (OIL), the preliminary work of arranging facilities for well control operation in Tinsukia's Baghjan oil field has begun. Two high discharge water pumps have been placed at the site and the testing and commissioning of these pumps are being planned for today after the completion of suction and delivery lines. Meanwhile, filling of water in CMT reservoir (3000 ml) from the Dangori river is in progress, said OIL. Equipment and other materials from ONGC in Sibasagar has also reached Duliajan.

The development of debris laydown area, site refuge and control area and CMT reservoir is being planned from today. At the same time, the land deal for laying water line to CMT reservoir (10,000-12,000 KL) and for placing kill pumps and flare pit is underway. It needs mention here that the yesterday, the land deal for debris laydown area, site refuge and control area and water reservoir was finalized with the help of the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia.

The OIL informed that all the relief camps are being provided with food, lodging, lighting, hygiene, toilet, drinking water, and medical requirements by OIL with the help of the district administration and the local student organizations. The OIL also reported that due to agitation programmes, there has been a production loss of 500 MT of crude oil from 23 oil wells and 0.46 MMSCM of natural gas from 3 gas wells, as reported on June 12.