OIL Assam Facility Fire: Death Toll Rises to 4, Four Officials Suspended After Deadly Blaze

The death toll in the fire at an Oil India Limited (OIL) facility in Assam's Dibrugarh district has risen to four after another injured worker succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. Meanwhile, the public sector undertaking has suspended four of its personnel responsible for overseeing the site pending an investigation into the incident.

The latest victim was identified as Sailen Gogoi, a mechanical helper employed by Spectron Engineering Private Limited, a Mumbai-based company engaged by OIL. He died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dibrugarh.

Three other workers injured in the incident are undergoing treatment in critical condition. All four deceased, along with the injured workers, were employees of the private engineering firm.

The fire broke out on November 6 following an explosion during maintenance work at OIL's Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) in Tengakhat. An intermediate tank farm is a facility where petroleum products are temporarily stored before being transferred for further processing or transportation.

One worker died on the day of the incident, while two others succumbed to their injuries the following day. Gogoi's death on Sunday took the toll to four.

Following the incident, OIL constituted a high-level committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the explosion and fire. As part of the action, all four OIL employees in charge of the facility, including three officers, have been placed under suspension until the investigation is completed.

The company has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased worker and Rs 5 lakh to every injured person.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are monitoring the situation. Sonowal spoke to OIL Chairman and Managing Director Ranjit Rath to review the response, while Sarma directed his principal secretary to coordinate with the company to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and adequate compensation for the bereaved families.