As leakage from an oil well in Baghjan in Tinsukia district of Assam continued for one week, an expert team from Singapore has been requisitioned to help in plugging the leakage.
The team from Singapore will be arriving in the state on June 3 to lend expertise to plug the leak, official sources said in Guwahati on June 2.
Joint Secretary of the Petroleum ministry has already reached the state to take stock of the situation.
Both the developments come following requests put in by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on June 2.
In a telephonic conversation with Pradhan – the second since the oil well leakage started on May 27, Sonowal requested his help in getting foreign experts in plugging the leak, leading to spewing of natural gas in the air.
Though efforts have been put in place by the crisis management team to control the release, gushes of natural gas have been oozing unrelentingly.
In view of the cascading effect of the incident on the surroundings and the residents in fringe areas, Sonowal also requested the Union minister for announcing adequate compensation to the victims.
The explosion and leakage from the oilfields of Oil India Limited at Baghjan has threatened the surrounding areas, with local administration evacuating people near the site.
