Dousing Baghjan gas well fire may take at least six to eight weeks more, says Assam Minister

GUWAHATI: Assam’s Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that dousing of fire in the Oil India Limited’s (OIL) gas well in Baghjan will take at least six to eight weeks more however the well is expected to be brought under control in next 10 days.

The gas producing well blew out on May 27. It exploded into a massive inferno on June 9.

The minister in state assembly on Wednesday said that experts with specialised equipment from Canada will soon join the operation.


He said diversion of gas to the Early Production Systems is being undertaken and this will take at least 10 days. “Earlier attempt to douse the fire which included experts of Alert Disaster Control of Singapore have failed but OIL and other agencies are working in co-ordinated way to douse the fire.”

He said around 3,000 people were housed in relief camps.