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ONGC gas leak: Protest erupts; locals demand accountability
The Statesman Siliguri
|June 19, 2025
Assam CM urges Centre to instruct ONGC to act in "mission mode" to control the situation
A severe gas blowout at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) well RDS-147A in Barichuk-Bhotiyapara has entered its seventh day, intensifying public anxiety and exposing gaps in industrial safety and emergency response systems.
The leak began on 12 June at 11:45 a.m. with a powerful explosion during a workover operation conducted by contractor group SK Petro using Rig 135-VI. ONGC's initial statement claimed that the situation was "under control" with no fire or injuries.
However, the reality on the ground told a different story. Since the explosion, natural gas has been escaping at an increasing rate, prompting mass evacuations and emergency measures.
On Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the site and publicly expressed grave concern.
This story is from the June 19, 2025 edition of The Statesman Siliguri.
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