Gas leak capped at Assam's Oil India site, no injuries or casualties

Business Industry

Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 13:56:03 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-27 12:14:05

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The well, which had been leaking since November 7, was finally capped this afternoon around 2 pm IST, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted.

The well in the eastern state of Assam has been leaking gas for the past 16 days, posing a severe risk to the local population and necessitating the evacuation of villagers living within a 1-kilometer radius of the site.

After the well blowout on November 7, the Oil India Limited (OIL) operated asset was finally brought under control after rigorous efforts to cap it, according to the company.

The well, located in the eastern part of the state at the edge of the Duliajan Wildlife Sanctuary, some 340 kilometers east of the state capital, Dispur, emitted natural gas and water.

During the 16-day period, the leaking gas sparked a fire that damaged a few trees and bushes nearby.

No injuries or casualties among the locals were reported, the ministry said, despite reports of some locals experiencing symptoms like headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems.

The state-owned OIL is primarily a hydrocarbon exploration and production company. It manages operations in Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, along with a few contiguous areas of Myanmar.

This incident highlights the need for stricter safety protocols and better infrastructure to prevent such incidents, which can have dire consequences for both the environment and local communities.

The conclusion of this operation without casualties or injuries is definitely a relief, and OIL must now investigate what caused the leak to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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