Assam News

Baghjan fire: OIL CMD hands over Rs 30 lakh ex-gratia to kin of deceased firefighters

Sushil Chandra Mishra handed over Rs 30 lakh each to the wives of Tikheswar Gohain and Durlav Gogoi who perished in the Baghjan fire

Sentinel Digital Desk

Guwahati: Oil India Limited (OIL) CMD Sushil Chandra Mishra on Monday handed over Rs 30 lakh each to the wives of the two deceased firefighters -- Tikheswar Gohain and Durlav Gogoi -- who died in the aftermath of the explosion and fire at the Baghjan Oil Well 5 in Upper Assam's Tinsukia on June 9.

Mishra, who paid the amount under the company's social security scheme, was accompanied by Assam ministers Chandramohan Patowary and Sanjay Kishan and Union Minister Rameshwar Teli.

In a statement, OIL said that the testing is completed for one of the OIL CMT high-discharge water pumps of capacity 2,500 GPM to be used for the oil control operation and the testing of the other pump is in progress.

The work of digging/extension of the second CMT water reservoir (capacity 12,000 kl) near the kill pimp area to accommodate more volume of water is in progress.

At the same time, the civil work for the development of debris law down, bunkhouse placement and kill pump area is in progress.

The laying of delivery lines from the river bank station to the second CMT water reservoir of capacity 12,000 kl is planned to be started from today.

"Placement of additional water pump at water pump station at Dangori river bank is completed and the testing of the same is in progress", informed OIL.

In the OIL's Engineering Workshop at Duliajan, the fabrication job required for reducing heat hazards to working personnel at the site is in progress.

At the same time, the vehicles carrying equipment from ONGC Rajamundry are in transit.

Meanwhile, the OIL has reported significant losses due to agitation programs that are being carried out in the aftermath of the blowout.

OIL in its statement said, "due to bandhs and blockades, 5,386 mt crude oil and 7.04 mmscm of natural gas has been lost."

At the same time, the sanitization of all the relief camps is also in progress and the 14 Assam regiment of the Indian armed forces is operating a medical camp for the people of the Bandarkhati relief camp.