Villagers living under fear after gas leak as ONGC awaits US experts to control Assam gas well blowout

Guwahati: Villagers living near a gas well of ONGC in eastern Assam's Sivasagar district have been living under constant fear of a possible disaster since the well blew out on June 12. The central PSU on Thursday said it was awaiting experts from the US to plug the leak.

At least 330 villagers were provided shelter in a nearby school as soon as the gas well blew out but efforts by ONGC experts so far have failed to control the discharge of the gas even on Thursday.

Health officials in Sivasagar said many of those provided shelter were having complications such as fever and gastro problems. The ONGC, however, said the air ambient quality in and around the site was found within permissible limits.

"Multiple junk shot operations using different combinations of materials and pressure ranges have been undertaken. An international team of well control experts has been mobilised from the USA and is expected to reach the site by June 20 evening to augment the response with specialised expertise," ONGC said in a statement on Thursday.

The ONGC said it started the process for development of an alternate route to facilitate safe and efficient movement in and out of the well site. Further, bunk houses and non-essential equipment are also being removed from the vicinity.

Water blanketing operations are being maintained round-the-clock as a key safety measure. Preparations for the next phase of well control, including dynamic well killing strategies, are progressing steadily, it said.

Assam CM worried

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed serious concern over the situation during his meeting with ONGC chairman Arun Kumar Singh in Guwahati on Wednesday. Sarma visited the site on Monday, following which he stated that people were "suffering like anything."

Later, Sarma dashed a letter to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, in which he stated that the steps taken by the ONGC appeared procedural and lacking visibility.

"I am constrained to convey that local perception is one of inadequate urgency and seriousness in ONGC's response." Sarma urged Puri to direct ONGC to reinforce the technical and leadership presence on-site, adopt a more mission-mode approach, and step up engagement with the local communities to restore confidence and bring the situation under control.