Oil well blowout near Assam national park yet to be controlled; environmentalists fear adverse impact

More than 60 hours after an oil well — owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) in Upper Assam — experienced a blowout, authorities are yet to bring the leak under control. On Wednesday morning, a blowout — or an uncontrolled release of natural gas — was reported at the Baghjan Oilfield of OIL in Tinsukia district. The area is located in the close vicinity of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.

As the blowout continued till Friday evening, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal discussed the situation with both Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel, and Chandra Mishra CMD of OIL, asking the latter to ensure that the leakage is stopped at the earliest.