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New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 18, 2020, reviewed the situation arising out of OIL India Limited Oil Well Blow Out and fire in the oil well No. Baghjan-5 in Tinsukia District, Assam.The review meeting was attended, amongst others by Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Chief Minister, Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, other Union Ministers and senior officers of Government of India.
Uncontrolled gas started leaking from this well on May 27, 2020. Thereafter while preparation was going on to control the leak, the well caught fire on June 9, 2020. The families living in the surrounding areas have been shifted and relief camps set up by the State Government in collaboration with OIL India Ltd. Approximately, 9,000 persons are living at these relief camps. As an immediate relief measure, Rs 30,000 each has been sanctioned for 1,610 families identified by the District Administration, according to a PIB release.
The Prime Minister assured the people of Assam through Chief Minister Assam that Government of India is fully committed to providing support and relief and rehabilitation to the affected families and is standing with the State Government in this difficult time due to the unfortunate incident that has taken place. He also directed the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry that this incident should be studied and documented so that learnings become useful in future. Further capacities and expertise should be developed within our own organisations to avoid such mishaps in future and deal with such calamities in case they occur.
During the meeting, it was informed that the Detailed Plan has been drawn with the help of Indian and foreign experts to control the flow of gas from the well and to cap it. The Plan is being executed as per the prepared schedule and it is proposed to cap the well on July 7, 2020, after taking all necessary safety precautions.