On June 4th, I reported how a massive oil well was leaking in a key geopolitical area in India, and how it was a very curious incident considering the current situation between China and India politically speaking. Now according to France24, that same well has not only continued to leak, but it is ablaze now in a major fire.
A huge fire broke out at an oil field near popular ecotourism spots in northeastern India on Tuesday, after gas that had spewed for two weeks from a blown-out well ignited, officials said.
The gas well at an oil field managed by state-owned Oil India started leaking in late May in Tinsukia district of Assam state, and the firm said late last week gas was still flowing “uncontrollably”.
Tuesday’s explosion sent bright orange flames and huge, black plumes of smoke high into the sky, visible 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the oil field, locals told AFP.
“While the clearing operations were on at the well site, the well caught fire,” Oil India said in a statement, adding that a firefighter suffered “minor injuries”.
Around 200 engineers and workers — including a team of experts who arrived from Singapore on Monday — are trying to stem the leak within four weeks, the company added.
Villagers fled in fear, and said five of their homes had caught fire.
“The situation is very bad. It is spreading. I knew it was going to happen,” local environmentalist Niranta Gohain told AFP over the phone from the site.
The company called for help from the army after locals allegedly attacked its vehicles after Tuesday’s explosion, spokesman Tridiv Hazarika said.
Water was being pumped to the well over the past two weeks to prevent the gas catching fire.
Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said firefighters, police and the army were being sent to the site, which is 500 kilometres east of Guwahati, the state’s biggest city. (source)
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