Gas well fire a livelihood disaster: Expert
The Baghjan gas well fire in Assam has not only “almost irreversibly” harmed a wetland famed for its birds but is set to trigger a local livelihood crisis, an ecology expert told The Telegraph on Saturday.
The fire continued to rage for the fifth straight day with local people complaining about continual tremors as well as the ear-splitting sound that has persisted since the well started spouting a petrol-like substance and natural gas 17 days ago.
Pollution from the blowout and the fire at Baghjan, about 530km east of Guwahati, has contaminated water bodies, devastated tea plantations and vegetable fields, and forced about 7,000 residents to be sent to 14 relief camps.
