Dibrugarh, Jan 6: A late-night rupture of an Oil India Limited (OIL) crude oil pipeline triggered widespread panic in Assam’s Dibrugarh district after oil began leaking uncontrollably into surrounding areas. The incident occurred around 10 pm on January 5 at Shalmari Dighalia under the Tingkhong area, raising fears of a major accident among local residents.
According to villagers, the pipeline burst suddenly with a loud explosion, followed by continuous leakage of crude oil. The strong smell of oil quickly spread through the locality, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, with residents apprehensive that a fire could break out at any moment. Many people said the intensity of the stench made breathing difficult, while the odour reportedly spread across nearly a one-kilometre radius.
The leaking oil soon flowed into nearby agricultural land and fish-rearing ponds, causing visible environmental damage. Several fish died after coming into contact with the crude oil, resulting in losses for local farmers and fish cultivators. Residents expressed concern that continued exposure to sunlight and wind could worsen the situation, increasing the risk of oil and gas mixing further and posing serious threats to human health, livestock and wildlife.
Following the incident, officials from Oil India rushed to the site during the night and began efforts to control the leakage. However, local residents alleged that such incidents were not new to the area, claiming that similar pipeline failures had occurred in the past. They accused the company of failing to adopt long-term safety measures and relying on temporary fixes instead of replacing what they described as an ageing and vulnerable pipeline.
The pipeline rupture has once again brought attention to concerns over industrial safety, environmental degradation and the risks faced by communities living near oil installations in Upper Assam. Residents have demanded stronger preventive measures and permanent solutions to prevent future incidents and protect both livelihoods and the local environment.
