Crude Oil Spill Causes Alarm in Assam Village
In a concerning incident late Monday night, crude oil spilled into residential areas of Halmari Dighalia Gaon in Dibrugarh district, Assam, after a pipeline operated by Oil India Limited (OIL) burst. The loud explosion that startled residents marked the beginning of a chaotic scene as oil gushed out and spread through the neighborhood.
“We heard a loud sound, and when we stepped outside, we saw the pipeline had burst and oil was everywhere,” shared Monimanik Gogoi, a local resident. Fortunately, the emergency team from OIL arrived quickly and worked hard to control the spill.
Residents expressed their relief at the quick response but remained worried about the safety of the pipeline system in their village. Many believe that the aging pipelines pose a significant threat to their safety. “These pipelines are very old, and OIL should look into replacing them. Our village has around 50 oil wells, including two Oil Collecting Stations and one Drilling Collecting Station,” said another concerned resident.
The community is calling for an inspection of the pipeline network and for urgent updates to the old infrastructure to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. “A major disaster was avoided this time, but we cannot be sure it won’t happen again,” warned another villager.
Attempts to reach OIL spokesperson Bhairab Bhuyan for comment were unsuccessful.
This incident recalls a tragic event from February last year when one person lost their life, and four others were injured during repair work in nearby Duliajan. OIL had attributed that accident to high pressure in a pipeline and launched an inquiry, promising to take measures to enhance safety.
The latest spill has once again brought the issue of pipeline safety to the forefront, highlighting the need for more diligent oversight and action.
