Three workers killed in Assam Oil India facility fire
The death toll rose to three on Saturday after a fire and explosion occurred during maintenance work in Dibrugarh district.
Three workers died following a fire and explosion at an Oil India Limited (OIL) facility in Tengakhat, Assam, according to The New Indian Express and The Hindu. The incident occurred on Friday morning at the company's Intermediate Tank Farm in the Dibrugarh district.
The blaze started at approximately 9:05 am at an Indirect Bath Heater (IBH) while maintenance was being carried out. The IBH area had been disconnected for repairs since November 4.
Raju Dutta died on Friday morning from the explosion. Two other workers, Tapas Gogoi and Rupam Gogoi, passed away on Saturday at private hospitals in Dibrugarh and Guwahati respectively, The Hindu reported.
Four other injured workers remain in critical condition. Five individuals were admitted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, while one was taken to the OIL Hospital in Duliajan.
A senior OIL official stated that the company is looking into all options for the best medical care for those injured. Fire and emergency services managed to extinguish the flames by 12:30 pm on Friday.
OIL has formed an internal inquiry committee to determine the immediate and underlying causes of the accident. The committee will also assess damages and recommend steps to avoid similar occurrences in the future.