Oil India Limited facility fire in Assam leaves five dead

The death toll from an explosion and subsequent fire at Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh district, has risen to five. The latest victim, 38-year-old Kumud Gogoi, died at a private hospital after succumbing to injuries sustained during the incident on November 6.

The explosion occurred in the crude oil storage area during maintenance work. The victims were employees of Spectron Engineers Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based company contracted by OIL. Several other workers remain in critical condition undergoing medical treatment.

In response to the incident, OIL has suspended four employees, including three officers, who were in charge of the site. A high-level inquiry has been instituted to determine the exact cause of the explosion. The public sector undertaking has announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to each injured person. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are monitoring the situation.