Disaster mock drill conducted at Digboi Refinery

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: Digboi Refinery (DR) conducted an onsite-cum-offsite disaster drill on Tuesday morning to check its preparedness during the unforeseen call. The drill was conducted in collaboration with the Tinsukia District Administration in response to a mild earthquake, which caused shear and rupture of an 18-inch Natural Gas (NG) line between the Kharsang off-take point and the refinery's fuel gas header inside and outside the refinery's east side boundary, resulting in profuse NG leakage, a vapour cloud explosion, and fire.

Soon after the emergency was declared, the Digboi Refinery team came forward with significant action as the activities of the drill unfolded in line with the approved of Emergency Response and Disaster Management Plan (ERDMP).

Meanwhile, the fire tenders rushed to the site and fixed water curtains, applied water through hand line and monitors to disperse the vapour cloud, exhibiting the skill to effectively tide over the disaster without any loss of property and human lives.

Meanwhile, simultaneous activities for evacuation, barricading, search and rescue operations were carried out swiftly by CISF personnel. As the emergency escalated beyond control and boundary wall onsite was followed by offsite disaster soon it was declared in coordination with district administration.

As a significant step toward disaster preparedness, one seriously injured CISF personnel was transported to Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh through ALS ambulance vide green corridor for better treatment with the help of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh district administration.

The information of emergency was communicated to RHQ as per ERDMP protocol, and subsequently, the Emergency Control Centre of RHQ was also activated. The entire exercise was effectively coordinated through live telecast from Digboi Refinery by the team led by CGM & RH along with CGM (T) and CGM (TS & HSE) and at RHQ by the team headed by ED (Operation), ED (PJ-PS) & CGM (HS&E) along with all the emergency coordinators of RHQ.

Representatives of DDMA and mutual aid partners from Oil India Limited, Duliajan, AGCL, Kathalguri took part in the programme. The BCPL, Dibrugarh also actively participated in the drill. The situation was brought under control after extinguishing the fire and arresting the leak.

Meanwhile,the entire drill was concluded by debriefing session chaired by K.K.Sarma, CGM & RH (AOD) in presence of SK Das, CGM (T), D. Baishya CGM (TS & HSE) along with representatives from District Authority, Runal Nath.

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