Petroleum Ministry constitutes High-Level Committee to inquire Baghjan gas well fire, Assam government orders probe:

Guwahati, June 12: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has ordered a probe into the blowout and fire incident at Baghjan oil field in Assam, Tinsukia district.

The MoPNG on Thursday has constituted a three-member High-Level Committee to inquire the incident.

The High-Level Committee has been comprised by S.C.L Das, Director General, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, B.C Bora, former Chairman ONGC and TK Sengupta, former Director ONGC and the Committee will identify the lapses in following laid down protocols and procedures which led to the incident, recommend short and long-term measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents including identifying any gaps in laid down standard operating procedures.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within one month.

Natural gas mixed with condensate started flowing uncontrollably from one of the wells of Oil India Ltd in Baghjan fields in Tinsukia district on May 27 leading to a blowout and the well-caught fire on June 9.

Two firefighters were killed and four others injured in the fire incident.

Over 7000 people living surrounding the areas of the oil field, were forced to leave their homes following the incident.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced an inquiry into the oil well blow out and subsequent fire incident in Baghjan, Tinsukia and entrusted Additional Chief Secretary Maninder Singh with the responsibility to conduct the inquiry and submit a report within 15 days.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister also directed Additional Principal Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) M. K. Yadava to conduct a study on the effects of the explosion incident on the environment and ecology of the surrounding areas.

Yadava was directed to cover effects of the incident on flora and fauna along with different species living in the water bodies of the area in his study.