Guwahati, September 15
At least 3000 persons of three villages have been evacuated, following a fire at a leaking high pressure gas and crude well of Oil India Limited (OIL) at Dikom, near Dibrugarh, late last night.According to sources, a school near the oil well was completely destroyed.
Authorities have set up relief camps to provide food and water to the people.
OIL spokesman Prasant Borkotoky admitted that the situation was critical, but said it was under control.
“The pressure was so much that it blew off the Christmas Tree valve also. Now it has to be capped. But things are under control,” he said.
More than 20 fire tenders sprayed water to keep the area cool, pillars of black smoke billowing from the fire could be seen at least 20 km away.
OIL authorities are not sure about the cause of the leakage, which has already damaged a huge area. They are awaiting the arrival of ONGC and foreign fire experts to douse the fire.
“The loss will be enormous and we have not yet quantified it. Our first priority is to plug the well without any casualty,” Mr Borkotoky said.
Almost 40 fire tenders from the civil administration, ONGC, OIL and other industries helped to keep the fire under control.
The National Highway nearby has now reopened and vehicles have started plying.
— UNI
