Assam: 2 firefighter bodies linked with Baghjan OIL blast recovered

A day after the blast occurred at the production well of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Tinssukia’s Banghjan in Assam, bodies of two firefighters have been recovered from a nearby pond on June 10^th, 2020.

The deceased have been identified as Durlav Gogoi and Tikheswar Gohain. The family members of the deceased have identified the deceased.

As per information, Gogoi and Gohain – both were present near the well at the time of the blowout causing uninterrupted gas leak posing threat to the wildlife of in and around the Dibru Saikhowa National Park, the Amazon of the Northeast, and the people residing in the adjacent areas.

Durlav Gogoi was a goalkeeper in the state footaball team. He had also played for a the OIL team.

After the initial blowout on May 27^th, 2020, the BGR 5 oil well of Baghjan area of Tinsukia, Assam was engulfed by a massive fire after a blast on June 9^th, 2020. A dense cloud of smoke was seen erupting blowing out of Oil India BGR 5 well was seen.

This comes amid the backdrop of a team of experts from Singapore, who reached the site on Monday and was supposed to working on it. As per sources, pungent smell has been found up to 30 km radius.

Also read: Assam: Baghjan situation remains tense, protest continues against OIL on World Environment day

High-level committee constituted

Almost a week after the incident at the well number 5 of OIL at the Baghjan oilfield, the forest department constituted a 10-member high-level inquiry committee to access its impact on wildlife and the ecology in the national park and the wetland adjacent to the oilfield. The team constitutes a group of local experts from various institutions, including a professor from Tezpur University, and will be headed by Chief Wildlife Warden MK Yadav.

Prime Minister takes stock

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the tense situation of Baghjan during a telephonic conversation with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today.

The PM assured of all cooperation to the people, who have suffered in the incident.

A few days ago, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took stock of the situation and told the CM that experts from Singapore have been called urgently to handle the situation. He had also directed the joint secretary of the Petroleum Ministry to rush to the spot.

Also read: Assam: Austerity measures fail as massive fire breaks out in Baghjan OIL well

The blowout

The blowout happened while workover operations were going on to produce gas from new sand (oil & gas-bearing reservoir) at a depth of 3,729 metres. Earlier, the well was producing around 1 lakh Standard Cubic Metre per day (SCMD) of gas from a depth of 3,870 metres,” an Oil India statement said.

An explosion or blowout means that there has been an uncontrolled release of crude oil and/or natural gas from an oil well or gas well. This happens after pressure control systems fail.

The workover operations were being carried out by Chartered Hire Rig owned by John Energy under the supervision of OIL, an OIL statement said.

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