May take two more months to kill Baghjan blowout well, says Assam minister

Assam’s Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the well-killing operation at the Baghjan blowout site in Tinsukia district may take another two months as Oil India Limited (OIL) has decided to partially divert the natural gas for controlling the fire at the well head.

Well No 5 at Baghjan, close to the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, had a blowout, or uncontrolled escape of gas at very high pressure, on May 27. The well caught fire on June 9 and has been burning since despite having been capped on August 17 after two failed attempts.

“The operation to kill the blowout well at Baghjan will take another six to eight weeks. A team of experts with a sophisticated machine is expected to arrive soon,” Mr Patowary told the 126-member State Assembly on Wednesday.