Two firefighters were found dead on June 10 near the site of the explosion at an oil well in Assam, CNN-News18 has reported.
The Oil India Limited-operated Baghjan oil well in Assam's Tinsukia district had been leaking gas "uncontrollably" for about two weeks, after a blowout at the site on May 27. The oil well caught fire in the afternoon on June 9 while clearing operations were underway.
In a statement released on June 10, OIL said, "Two OIL Employees from Fire Services Durlov Gogoi, Assistant Operator and Tikheswar Gogoi, Assistant Operator lost their lives during the Fire. Bodies of the employees, who were missing since yesterday, have been recovered."
"Four persons (two from OIL, one from ONGC and one from Contractor) sustained minor injury and have been given immediate medical help," it added.
The company also said that water is currently being sprayed to prevent the fire from spreading to the surrounding areas.
Protests had erupted in the nearby area after the well caught fire. OIL has said it could take as long as four weeks to bring under control the fire that is currently raging across the oilfield in Assam.
The Baghjan oilfield, where the explosion has taken place, is located in a region rich in biodiversity, with the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park on one side and the Maguri Beel wetlands on the other. As per reports, wildlife experts and environmental activists fear that the fire that has engulfed the oil well and covered the area in thick, dark smoke, may lead to immense damage to the rare species of flora and fauna.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
