Assam: Unexplained tremors force over 1000 people of three villages near Baghjan to leave their homes
Guwahati/IBNS: After the fire incident of the gas well of Baghjan oil field in Assam’s Tinsukia district, many villagers living nearby were forced to leave their homes following unexplained tremors in the area in the last two-three days.
Over 1000 people of Natungaon, Gotong and Kaliapani near Baghjan oil field were shifted to three relief camps set up at Guijan High School, Guijan LP School and the Guijan Forest Inspection Bungalow since June 11.
Saroj Gohain – a local resident of Guijan area – said after the gas well fire incident, there were earthquake-like tremors.
“The tremors had scared the villagers. Some houses were damaged by the vibrations. Around 600 families were shifted to Guijan High School,” Saroj Gohain said.
Mulapi Gohain – a resident of Kaliapani village – said she and her family were panic-striken by the sudden jolts after the fire incident.
“We are experiencing headache and eye burn after the Baghjan fire incident. We are feeling unsafe,” Mulapi Gohain said.
Meanwhile, the experts of the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) are trying to ascertain the cause of the tremors.
In a press release, Oil India Limited (OIL) said – “There were some reports of tremors in nearby villages. OIL has contacted North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat to carry out a study to see if there is any induced seismicity due to the blowout.”
On the other hand, Doomdooma MLA Durga Bhumij said the gas well blowout and fire incident at Baghjan oil field hs posed a big threat to the Maguri wetland, Dibru-Saikhowa park.
“The Oil India Limited (OIL) must give compensation for all the damages,” Durga Bhumij said.
Two firefighters were killed and four others injured in the massive gas well fire incident.
Baghjan – about 43 km away from Tinsukia town where the gas well blow out occurred on May 27 – is close to Maguri-Motapung wetlands, just one kilometre from the oil field where the blow out at one of the OIL Rigs at OIL Well no 5 Baghjan in the Motapung Maguri Beel area had happened.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, spread over 340 square km is a biosphere reserve and home to 36 mammal species including tiger, Gangetic dolphin, feral horses, 382 bird species, is also very close to Baghjan oil field.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
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