Tengakhat Oil Fire: Minister Sonowal Demands Probe and Compensation
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal demands a high-level probe and compensation after a deadly explosion at Oil India's Tengakhat facility.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has intervened following a devastating explosion and subsequent fire at the Tengakhat oil reservoirs, urging immediate action to support victims and uncover the cause of the disaster. The Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways contacted the Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Ltd. (OIL) at the Duliajan headquarters to assess the gravity of the situation at the Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) facility.
Urgent Call for Medical Care and Compensation
During the telephone conversation, Sonowal emphasized that the health and well-being of the affected workers must be the top priority. He urged the company to provide the highest standard of medical treatment for all those injured in the blast without any delay.
Beyond immediate medical aid, the Lok Sabha MP from Dibrugarh called for the provision of appropriate compensation for the families of the workers who lost their lives in the tragedy, ensuring that the bereaved are supported during this crisis.
Demand for a High-Level Investigation
Seeking transparency and accountability, Minister Sonowal has advocated for a high-level inquiry conducted by the relevant authorities. He stressed the need to establish the exact cause of the fire and to bring every detail surrounding the incident to light to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The Tragedy at the ITF Facility
The incident, which occurred on Friday morning, has left a trail of destruction and loss. While initial reports suggested five injuries and one missing person, Oil India Limited later confirmed that one worker has died and six others sustained injuries.
The disaster unfolded during technical operations at the facility. Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion took place within the crude oil storage section while a valve was being operated.
Details from the Ground
Kamal Phukan, the Area Manager of Spectron Engineers Pvt Ltd, provided insights into the nature of the work being carried out at the time of the blast. He explained that the team was performing routine maintenance on machinery that typically requires servicing on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Phukan noted that several injured workers were rushed to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh for urgent care, while another was taken to the Oil Medical College. He further mentioned that special teams were deployed to locate the worker who was initially reported missing.