Assam Major Fire AT Market Place 2020: News, Cause, Crisis
There was a massive blowout at the Assam at the Oilwell owned by Oil India Limited which had been leaking gas since the fire May 27th. This oil well is located in Baghjan of Tinsukia district in Assam and had destroyed nearly everything within the radius of one km at the time of the blowout. The oil well had been leaking gas for about 14 days and which lead to an intense fire explosion. The fire was so massive that it could be seen from as far as 10 km away. Officials are afraid that the fire may reach to adjoining areas as well.
" The well is right next to the core area (of the national park)and has had an impact. The wind has not helped things either, the fire keeps raging and the leaked gas has spread over the wide-area, " said Parimal Suklabaidya, environment minister, Assam.
An environmental impact of this fire is still under study and a damage evaluation survey has found out that about 1,600 families were affected by the fire. Unfortunately, two firefighters of Oil India were found dead near the site of the massive oil well fire in Assam. According to some reports, the two were missing and their bodies were found near the well at a wetland.
"After the incident (fire), affected people in the surrounding areas are accommodated at 12 relief camps at a safer distance with the help of the district administration and arrangements for food and other basic needs have been made," OIL said in a statement. (PTI). Nearly 7000 people who lived close to the areas of the oil well explosion were transferred to 12 relife camps and were taken care of. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that OIL has decided to give an amount of Rs 30000 to each of the afflicted families as an instant relief fund. The fire had also endangered the local biodiversities which had already been damaged due to the major blowout that occurred on May 27. There was a combined loss of 3,016 metric tonnes of crude oil and 10.07 million metric cubic meters of natural gas. "Number of houses, vehicles, small gardens, and some forest areas burnt to ashes. Getting an exact estimate of the damage has become difficult due to the impact of the fire and the high temperature. The district administration is working on this," an OIL official said.
On the 11th of June, OIL CMD Sushil Chandra Mishra announced to Assam industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary that the fire would be put out in 21 days but the time limit transpired on June 30.
Within this time it had cost lots of damage to the surroundings and had affected more than 10,000 residents leaving them raged and displaced in relief camps. Which had caused a stir and brought the people on the streets demanding justice, the families of the two victims who had died ask for compensation,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of any possible support to the victims and to fix the condition in Assam.
