Death Toll in Oil India Limited Facility Explosion in Assam Rises to Two

The death toll in an explosion at Oil India Limited’s (OIL) facility in Assam’s Dibrugarh district has risen to two, following the death of an engineer who succumbed to burn injuries at a private hospital.

The incident occurred on Friday when a fire broke out during maintenance work at OIL’s Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, according to a statement issued by the public sector undertaking. An Intermediate Tank Farm is used for the temporary storage of petroleum products in tanks before they are transferred for further processing or transportation.

The latest fatality was identified as Tapas Jyoti Gogoi, an employee of Spectron Engineering Private Limited, a firm engaged by Oil India Ltd. Kamal Phukan, the area manager of Spectron Engineering, confirmed the death on Saturday. Gogoi, a 13-year veteran of the company and a resident of Dibrugarh, sustained around 70 percent burn injuries and passed away at approximately 3 am on Saturday. He is survived by his parents, his wife, and a daughter.

According to official statements, a total of nine workers were present at the site when the accident happened on Friday. Seven workers sustained injuries in the blast and subsequent fire. The initial casualty was identified as Raju Dutta, who passed away on Friday.

Following the accident, the injured workers were first admitted to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh and were later shifted to a private healthcare facility. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke with the Oil India Chairman and Managing Director regarding the Tengakhat fire, urging the provision of the best possible medical care for the injured.

Officials reported that three of the remaining injured workers are currently in critical condition.

"Industrial safety and operational compliance are critical pillars for any enterprise, especially in high-risk sectors like oil and gas. This tragic incident at the Oil India Limited facility underscores the absolute necessity of maintaining rigorous safety protocols during maintenance work, particularly when dealing with third-party contractors and hazardous environments. Ensuring comprehensive safety measures and swift emergency response mechanisms is essential to protecting the workforce and maintaining business continuity." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes