Assam: Baghjan villagers protest over neglect by OIL, vows to jump in fire

Residents of Baghjan held a protest demonstration outside the office of Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner demanding compensation for families affected due to the gas blowout and fire incident.

A huge gathering of people gathered outside the Baghjan EPS blocking the entry to the facility. The slogan shouting people then squatted in front of the EPS gate, and all the time raising slogans against OIL, accusing the company of being negligent to the demands of the disaster affected families, who have been forced to stay like refugees in shelters.

The helpless residents raised the issue of the neglect shown by Oil India Limited to give remuneration to the people affected in the Baghjan tragedy. One of the villagers said, "we need compensation and there is no solution so far. We cant live for long in this atmosphere as our babies are just surviving to stay outside villages in the times of Corona. We have no fear, OIL should give us closure and give us accommodation, otherwise, we will fall in the very flames they caused. Till 41 days, we waited, that we will get the losses back. We will not stay silent and will have to jump in the fire, if necessary".

The following protest has reignited after the July 6 deadline as the Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuva Sangha had on June 20 asked OIL and the Tinsukia civil administration to come up with a compensation and rehabilitation package by July 6. Speaking to Inside Northeast, Satyajit Moran of the Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuva Sangha said, "so far there has been a total failure of not just compensation but the entire negotiation with the villagers by the concerned departments, especially OIL". In terms of the claims by OIL of providing compensation, "only they can go whom they have given. Villagers have not received any". In the meantime, the OIL productions in the area have been halted. "We will not allow any activities of OIL so far they are not settled".

Also read: Assam Flood: Death toll rises to 40; 1,70,956 people still affected

Meanwhile, the villagers are stuck at relief centres facing the dual harships of corona and the blast fury with not even proper social distancing.

On 27th May, an Oil India Limited gas well, the BGR 5, faced a blowout which spewed hydrocarbons across a huge radius raining the adjoining villages in Baghjan with associated condensate. Then on 9th June, the blowout caught fire when well control experts from M/S Alert Disaster Control had arrived at the scene to begin work on capping the well. The fire is still raging as this report is being typed out. Villagers were evacuated immediately and sheltered in nearby schools which facilitated as relief centres. Two persons, both OIL employees, have lost their lives due to the blowout.

Ever since the villagers have been homeless and are forced to stay in relief centres with their houses destroyed.

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