The Fire Rages On

The fire at Baghjan oil field in Tinsukia continues to burn and locals express concern for the environment

In the month of May, there were reports of a leak at Baghjan oil field, which is located less than a kilometre away from the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. This was a matter of deep concern, and Oil India Limited (OIL) officials along with engineers were working to contain the leak when the situation escalated. A fire broke out, endangering the life of humans and wildlife in the area.

Although human casualties were limited to a minimum, the cost to nature and wildlife has been great. We take a detailed look at the fire that is still in the process of being extinguished.

From Leak to Fire

It all started when oil rigs at oil well number 5 of Baghjan oil fields suffered a blowout. This led to a leak of natural gas and condensed droplets. Officials and engineers were working together to find a way to control the gas leak but there wasn’t much progress. In an effort to prevent a possible fire, OIL had been spraying water over the area to keep temperatures down. There have been a few light showers also that helped their cause. At the same time, a three-member expert team was flown in from Singapore to help control the situation. The blast occurred when experts and engineers of Oil India Limited were engaged in containing the leak.