Oil India Tank Farm Blast: 5 Injured, 1 Missing in Dibrugarh
A massive explosion and fire at Oil India's Intermediate Tank Farm in Dibrugarh has left five workers injured and one missing.
A morning of routine maintenance turned into a scene of chaos in Assam's Dibrugarh district when a massive fire and explosion ripped through the Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Tengakhat on Friday. The blast has left five workers injured and one person missing, sparking an urgent search operation at the facility.
The Moment of Explosion
The incident occurred during technical operations at the plant. Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion took place within the crude oil storage section. It is believed that the blast was triggered while a valve was being operated, leading to an immediate outbreak of fire that engulfed the area.
The workers involved in the operation were employees of Spectron Engineers Private Limited, a Mumbai-based firm contracted by Oil India Limited to carry out specialized work at the site.
Casualties and the Search for the Missing
The force of the explosion was so severe that one worker was reportedly thrown away from the site. Despite extensive searches, he remains missing, and a special team is currently working to locate him.
Five other workers sustained injuries and were rushed to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for emergency treatment. They have been identified as:
- Tapas Gogoi (40), resident of Milan Nagar, Dibrugarh
- Shailen Gogoi (45)
- Kumud Gogoi (38)
- Golap Dutta (58)
- Indra Gogoi (40)
All four of the latter residents are from Tengakhat. Additionally, another individual was reportedly transported to the Oil India Hospital for medical attention.
Maintenance Work Gone Wrong
Kamal Phukan, the Area Manager of Spectron Engineers Pvt Ltd, clarified that the team was performing routine maintenance on machinery that typically requires servicing on a monthly or quarterly basis. While confirming the injuries, Phukan stated that there has been no official confirmation of any deaths so far.
"During technical work, a fire broke out and around five people were injured. They have been brought to the Assam Medical College and Hospital here. I have no information about any death," Phukan told ANI.
Investigation Underway
While the immediate priority remains finding the missing worker and treating the injured, the exact cause of the valve failure and the subsequent explosion is yet to be officially confirmed. Authorities are awaiting a detailed report to determine if there were any safety lapses during the routine maintenance process.