Assam’s Baghjan gas well fire still rages on, Government takes help from global experts to control the situation:

Guwahati, June 15: The fire at the natural gas well of Oil India Limited (OIL) at Baghjan oil field in Assam Tinsukia district is still raging on and both centre and state government are taking help from the experts of different foreign countries to douse the fire.

A massive fire broke out at a gas well at Baghjan oil field on June 9, when the experts and engineers of Oil India Limited were engaged to control the gas and oil emission continued at the site after the blowout of a gas well in the oil field managed by Oil India Limited on May 27.

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

At least 50 houses, properties, tea garden, grasslands, many trees damaged, several domestic animals were killed in the massive fire incident in the area.

The incident had forced over 10,000 people living in surrounding areas of the site to leave their homes and the people had taken shelter at 12 relief camps.

On Sunday, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had visited Baghjan area and took stock the situation.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that – “Our priority is now to seal the gas well as soon as earliest.”

“Both centre and state governments are jointly working on this. We have brought global experts to seal the gas well. The Government of India has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to find out the actual reason of the incident. The Assam government has also initiated a probe. We will give compensation to the people after completing the assessment of the damages. We have already provided Rs 30,000 to each family as an interim compensation,” Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Union Minister Pradhan further said that his ministry is taking all possible short and long term measures, including giving compensation to the people and restoring the sanctity of the ecological factors given the fire.

He also said that though the oil sector plays important role in the economy of the state, the oil industry is also greatly indebted to the people of Assam for the support they extend to the government and industry in this crisis.

The both centre and state governments are now taking international help to douse the fire, and constituting an expert committee to study the environmental impact and suggest the remedial steps.

Assam Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Union Petroleum Minister according to highest importance to the Baghjan fire incident is taking steps to bring in experts from America, Australia, Canada and Singapore to douse the fire.

He also said that though the government as an interim relief granted Rs. 30 thousand given to each of the displaced victims, the government is working on modalities to compensate the displaced persons adequately.

On the other hand, the Assam Chief Minister said that the government is attaching due importance to the phenomena and is all set to constitute a committee taking experts from IIT Guwahati, Regional Research Centre, Jorhat, Geological Survey of India and after receiving the feedback from the expert committee, the government would take appropriate, time-bound steps.

“The Maguri Beel has been polluted following the gas well blowout and we directed the Oil India Limited to clean the Beel (wetland). We are planning to convert Maguri-Motapung Beel into an international tourist destination,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Sonowal also said that the government will take all steps for all-round development of Baghjan and all pragmatic steps will be taken to avert recurrence of such incidents in the future.

On the other hand, the Oil India Limited said that Environmental Impact Assessment in the vicinity of the area through a NABET accredited firm is in progress.

In a press release issued by OIL stated that – “Preparation for capping the Well  A team comprising members from M/s Alert, ONGC & OIL CMT is at the well site for assessment of site preparation for well control operation. Connection of suction and delivery lines of two numbers of high discharge water pumps, to be used for well control operation, is completed.”

“Commissioning of the pumps is in progress. Filling of water in the first CMT water reservoir (3000KL) from Dangori River progress: 80%. Digging/extension job of the second CMT water reservoir (Capacity 12000 KL) near kill pump area to accommodate more volume of water is in progress. Civil work for development of debris laydown area and Bunkhouse placement area is in progress. Additional one number of water pump has been mobilized for water pump station created at Dangori river bank. Joint inspection of equipment mobilised from ONGC- Sibsagar by one team from M/s Alert and ONGC CMT team is underway at OIL CMT Yard in Duliajan. Vehicle carrying equipment from ONGC-Rajahmundry is approaching Siliguri as per latest report. Loading of additional equipment being mobilized from ONGC—Rajamundry is underway,” said in the OIL release.

The Oil India Limited also stated in the release that, due to agitation programs, there was production loss of 509 MT of Crude Oil from 28 numbers of oil wells and 0.65 MMSCM of Natural Gas from 4 numbers of gas wells and 26 numbers of associated gas wells as reported on June 13.

Sarbananda Sonowal and Dharmendra Pradhan to visit to Baghjan on June 14:

Guwahati, June 13: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the latter’s official residence at Brahmaputra State Guest House in Guwahati and discussed the fire incident that took place at Baghjan gas well of Oil India Limited on June 9.

The Union Petroleum Minister assured that his ministry is closely monitoring the situation and assured that all necessary steps would be taken by the Government of India to provide succour to the affected families.

During the meeting, Assam Chief Minister Sonowal and the Union Minister decided to make a joint visit to the incident site to have ground understanding about the situation.

The Assam Chief Minister and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will jointly visit to Baghjan on June 14.

Sonowal informed the Union Minister about the incident said that the state government has been extending all needful support to OIL in its efforts to control the situation.

He said that Tinsukia district administration before the fire incident evacuated people from the nearby villages and they are being put up in relief camps.

The Assam Chief Minister further requested to take adequate measures for maximum compensation to the affected families.

Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna while briefing about the steps taken by the Assam government informed that twelve relief camps have set up by district administration where altogether 7000 people are taking shelter.

He said that district administration is presently assessing to ascertain the extent of damage by the gas well fire incident.

During the meeting, both Sonowal and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan talked to senior OIL officials and Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary who is presently camping at Tinsukia through video conference to have an understanding about the ground situation and the measures taken by OIL to cap the well.

The Union Minister during the interaction took stock of the support rendered by the state government and stressed on working on a war footing to cap the well.

Minister of Finance of Government of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of State (i/c) for Cultural Affairs Naba Kumar Doley, MP Topon Kumar Gogoi, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, Principal Secretary to CM Sanjay Lohiya, senior officials of Union Petroleum Ministry and Government of Assam were present in the meeting.

26-year-old youth stabbed to death over a chair, police arrest five, CID starts investigation:

Guwahati, June 13: Youth stabbed to death over a chair and Guwahati city police have arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in a murder case.

A 26-year-old youth was stabbed to death on daylight at Noonmati area in the capital city of Assam on Friday afternoon.

The incident took place at a shop located at Noonmati area after an argument over a chair.

The victim identified as Rituparna Pegu worked at a shop named Armaan Home Furnishing owned by Armaan Ali.

On Friday afternoon, Rituparna and another employee of the shop were engaged in a heated argument over a chair and one man stabbed Rituparna Pegu with a knife from behind.

The victim was immediately collapsed on the roadside and the entire incident was captured on CCTV camera installed at the shop.

Later, police and some locals had rushed Rituparna to hospital, but the doctors declared him brought dead.

Following the incident, police had arrested four persons on Friday evening based on the CCTV footage and arrested the owner of the shop on Saturday.

The arrested persons were identified as Dulal Ali, Ibrahim Ali, Manowara Khatun, Hussain Ali and Arman Ali.

A case has been lodged against the five accused at Noonmati police station under the case number 294/2020 under section 147/148/149/302 of IPC.

Officer-in-Charge of Noonmati police station Rajib Baruah said that five persons including the owner of the shop have been arrested so far in connection with the incident.

“We immediately rushed to the spot following the incident. We admitted the victim at the hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead. We had arrested four persons yesterday and one more arrested today,” the police officer said.

On the other hand, several organizations, agitated protestors on Saturday gheraoed Noonmati police station and demanded justice for Rituparna Pegu.

The protesters had blockaded roads and demanded capital punishment for the murderers.

On the other hand, following a directive of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the CID branch of Assam police has started investigation into the incident.

Assam: Unexplained tremors force over 1000 people of three villages near Baghjan to leave their homes

Guwahati, June 13: After the fire incident of the gas well of Baghjan oil field in Assam Tinsukia district, many villagers living nearby the site were also forced to leave their homes following unexplained tremors felt in the area in last two-three days.

Over 1000 people of Natungaon, Gotong and Kaliapani near Baghjan oil field were shifted out since June 11 to relief camps set up at Guijan area.

The villagers of three villagers are now taking shelters at three relief camps set up at Guijan High School, Guijan LP School and the Guijan Forest Inspection Bungalow.

Saroj Gohain – a resident of Guijan area said that, after the gas well fire incident, the villagers felt some tremors like earthquake.

“The villagers had scared about the unexpected incident. Some houses had damaged in the vibrations. Around 600 families were shifted to Guijan High School,” Saroj Gohain said.

On the other hand, Mulapi Gohain – a resident of Kaliapani village said that she and her family members were very scared following the earthquake-like vibrations.

“We are facing headache, eye-burning like problems after the Baghjan fire incident. We are feeling unsafe,” Mulapi Gohain said.

Meanwhile, the experts of the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) are trying to ascertain the cause of the tremors.

In a press release issued by the Oil India Limited (OIL) said that – “There were some reports of tremors in nearby villages. OIL has contacted North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat to carry out a study to see if there is any induced seismicity due to the blowout.”

On the other hand, Doomdooma assembly constituency MLA Durga Bhumij said that, the gas well blowout and fire incident at Baghjan oil field now carrying a big threat to the Maguri wetland, Dibru-Saikhowa park.

“The Oil India Limited (OIL) must have to give compensation against all damages,” Durga Bhumij said.

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

Assam reports 2132 COVID19 positive cases in just 10 days, CM Sonowal directs the state Health Department to ramp up testing:

Guwahati, June 13: Assam witnesses sudden spike on COVID19 positive cases as 2132 positive cases for the deadly virus have been detected in the state in the last 10 days.

Given sudden spike on COVID-19 positive cases in the state, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked the state Health and Family Welfare department to ramp up COVID- 19 testing in the state.

Convening a meeting to assess the COVID-19 situation in the state at the conference room of Chief Minister’s office in Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Friday, Sarbananda Sonowal said that because the viral infection is spreading to more number of people, the existing mechanism of health in the state needs to vigorously promote testing and identity emerging hotspots.

He also emphasised on the need of adhering to the safety protocols in the containment zone and quarantine centres to control the spread of the disease.

According to the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam data, the state had tested 1,33,029 samples for COVID-19 till June 4 and it has increased to 1,88,090 till June 12.

During the period, a total of 55,061 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the state in an average of 6882 tests per day.

In a press conference held in Guwahati on May 31, Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state has now a capacity to test 10,000 samples for COVID-19 per day.

Himanta Biswa Sarma further said in the press conference that, the state has tested 1,04,083 samples for COVID-19 as of May 31.

But, the state has been able to conduct a test of an average of 6900 samples for COVID-19 per day in the last 9-10 days.

During the same period, the state has registered 2132 positive cases for COVID-19 in an average of 213 cases per day.

On the other hand, the positive cases for COVID-19 in the state have doubled in just 9 days.

Till June 3, the state had reported 1830 COVID-19 positive cases, but the cases have now increased to 3693.

The first COVID-19 case was detected in the state on March 31 and the case was found at Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH).

It took 48 days to reach 100 positive cases from the day detection of the first case.

Hamid Ali or Hanif Ali – Assam hospital goofs-up in COVID-19 risk, discharge wrong patient

Guwahati, June 13: A government-run hospital in Assam’s Darrang district goof-up and discharge a COVID-19 positive patient instead of another patient who recovered from the deadly disease.

This shocking incident has happened at Mangaldai civil hospital in Darrang district.

The district authority has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

According to the reports, the state government had approved a list of 14 persons who recovered from the disease as they were admitted at Mangaldai civil hospital to discharge from the government-run hospital.

Hamid Ali or Hanif Ali – the authorities had mixed up the names in the list sent by the state government.

The hospital authorities decided to discharge Hamid Ali and five other patients among the 14 in the list.

Hamid Ali – a migrant worker who was treated at the hospital since June 5 and Hanif Ali – who had been admitted at the hospital since June 3 and both are hailing from Dalgaon area in the district.

On Wednesday, the authorities had discharged five persons from the hospital who recovered from the novel Coronavirus and local MLA Gurujyoti Das, Deputy Commissioner of Darrang district Dilip Kumar Borah and Superintendent of Police Amrit Bhuyan were also present.

But the hospital authorities mixed up Hamid Ali with Hanif Ali and so instead of Hamid Ali, they discharged Hanif Ali along with Sajidul Haque, Nazrul Islam, Sikander Ali, Osman Goni and Sahidul Haque.

A senior doctor of Mangaldai hospital said that the near similar names of the two persons led the mix-up and Hanif Ali was released from the hospital instead of Hamid Ali.

Hanif Ali was reached at his village at around 9 pm on Wednesday in an ambulance.

When the health officials learnt that, Hanif Ali being wrongly released, they immediately brought back him to the hospital on Thursday.

Following the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang district has ordered a magisterial inquiry.

Darrang district Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Borah said over the phone that, fortunately, Hanif Ali has also tested negative in the results of June 11.

“Hanif Ali was released instead of Hamid Ali and after knew it we brought him back to the hospital. Health officials have already taken swabs of Hanif Ali’s nearest family members and declared his house as containment zone,” Dilip Kumar Borah said.

The Deputy Commissioner has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.