A fire at Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh district, on Friday claimed the life of one worker and left six others with burn injuries, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety arrangements at industrial installations.
The incident occurred around 9.05 am during maintenance work on an Indirect Bath Heater (IDBH), which had reportedly been isolated since November 4. All seven workers involved were employed by an operation and maintenance contractor.
One worker died at the site, while five of the injured were admitted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. The sixth was taken to OIL Hospital in Duliajan.
Eleven fire tenders were deployed to tackle the blaze. Firefighting operations continued for several hours before the fire was brought under control at 12.30 pm.
OIL has formed an internal inquiry committee to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the incident. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire, including the reported isolation of the equipment and the safety procedures followed during maintenance.
The fatality has also drawn attention to the safeguards available to contractor-employed workers and the effectiveness of emergency response arrangements at the facility. The inquiry’s findings and subsequent preventive measures will be significant in determining accountability and reducing the risk of similar incidents.
