A massive fire has engulfed the Baghjan oil well in Assam’s Tinsukia district. The oil well in Assam has been continuously flowing outgas, for the past 14 days. The blaze at the Oil India Ltd’s well is so massive that it can be seen from a distance with thick black smoke going up several metres high.

Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal conducted an emergency video conferencing meeting with Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan and took complete stock of the ground-level situation of the fire. To bring the situation under control, the Assam government deployed a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district officials, police and paramilitary forces. After CM Sonowal requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian Air Force has also rushed its fire tenders to douse the fire breakout at Baghjan oil field.

The oil well at Baghjan in Tinsukia, around 550 km east of Guwahati, has been leaking gas for the past 14 days, causing enormous damage to the region’s wildlife, wetlands and biodiversity. Many small tea growers in the area have also claimed layers of gas condensates in their tea gardens. As many as 6000 people have been shifted to three relief camps after the leakage began. The state-owned OIL has also announced financial aid of Rs 30,000 to each of the affected families.

The accident shattered the social media. Locals shared the horrific scenes on Twitter.