Singapore experts roped in to plug OIL's well blowout in Assam

GUWAHATI: An expert team from Singapore will reach Assam on Wednesday to lend its expertise to contain an oil well blowout at a well of Oil India Limited at Baghjan in Tinsukia district, which has remained uncontrolled since Wednesday and the continuous gushing out of oil and gas is damaging the environment.
Assam chief minister Sarabanda Sonowal on Tuesday called up telephoned Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and requested his help in getting foreign experts in plugging a leak in the well of Oil India Limited at Baghjan leading to spewing of natural gas in the air.
“The state is grappling with yet another crisis amid a spike in coronavirus pandemic and severity of flood. OIL’s Baghjan oil well caused rupture on Wednesday morning causing spewing of gas into the environment. Though best of the efforts have been put in place by the crisis management team to control the release, gushes of natural gas have been oozing unrelentingly,” Sonowal said.
Further, in view of the cascading effect of the incident on the surroundings and the residents in fringe areas, Sonowal also requested the Pradhan for announcing adequate compensation of the victims.
“He informed that a joint secretary from Union Petroleum Ministry has also been directed to rush to the site to take stock of the situation and an expert team from Singapore will reach the state tomorrow to lend its expertise to plug the leak,” Sonowal said.