Oil India Tank Farm Fire in Assam Kills One Worker and Injures Six

One worker died and six others suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out at Oil India Limited's Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh district, Assam, on Friday morning.

The blaze began around 9:05 a.m. during maintenance work on an Indirect Bath Heater that had been isolated since 4 November. The deceased was identified as Raju Dutta, an employee of Mumbai-based Spectron Engineers Private Limited, the contractor engaged by Oil India. The six injured, also contractor employees, were taken to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh and Oil India Hospital in Duliajan. Burn percentages ranged from 35 to 90 percent. Their condition remains critical.

Oil India's fire service mobilised eleven tenders. The fixed firefighting system was activated. The fire was extinguished by 12:30 p.m. District officials, including the Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, visited the site. The company has set up an internal inquiry to determine the cause and recommend preventive measures.

Preliminary accounts indicate the explosion occurred in the crude oil storage section while workers operated a valve. Nine workers were present. The incident has prompted scrutiny of maintenance procedures at the facility. Oil India expressed condolences and said the situation is under control. Local authorities continue to monitor the injured.