Three workers have died following an explosion and fire at the Oil India Limited tank farm in Tengakhat.
The death toll from an explosion and subsequent fire at the Oil India Limited (OIL) Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh, rose to three on Saturday, according to The Assam Tribune. The fatalities include Tapas Jyoti Gogoi and Rupam Gohain, following the death of Raju Dutta on Friday.
The incident occurred on Friday while maintenance work was being carried out at the facility. Nine workers were present at the site when the accident happened, with seven workers sustaining injuries.
Tapas Jyoti Gogoi, who had worked at the facility for 13 years, died at approximately 3 am on Saturday after sustaining around 70 per cent burns. His elder brother stated that the cause of death was recorded as cardiorespiratory failure.
Kamal Phukan, area manager of Spectron Engineering Services Private Limited, said three to four injured workers are still receiving advanced medical treatment, with one or two in critical condition. The company, which manages the workers, said it is prepared to shift patients outside the district or state if doctors recommend specialised treatment and will provide compensation to affected workers.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has urged Oil India to provide medical assistance, investigate the cause of the explosion, and compensate the families of the victims.
The exact cause of the explosion and the extent of the damage to the oil storage facility remain unclear, though the All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union has questioned the company's safety preparedness.
