Concerns Rise After Oil Pipeline Bursts Twice in Dibrugarh

Pipeline Incidents Cause Alarm in Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh, Jan 7: The community is experiencing heightened anxiety and frustration following two incidents involving a crude oil pipeline owned by Oil India Limited (OIL) that ruptured within hours at Shalmari-Dighalia village in the Tingkhong region, raising significant alarms about the aging oil infrastructure and the safety of residents.

The first rupture occurred around 9:45 PM on January 5, when locals were startled by a loud noise and rushed outside to witness crude oil spewing from the damaged pipeline. Emergency response teams and fire services from OIL quickly arrived on the scene, successfully managing to control the leak and preventing a potential disaster in the densely populated area.

However, just as the community began to recover from the initial shock, another rupture was reported at approximately 10 AM the following morning. Once again, crude oil erupted from the same damaged section, prompting villagers to evacuate to safer areas due to fears of a catastrophic event. OIL personnel worked for nearly an hour to contain the second leak.

The repeated incidents have resulted in significant environmental damage, with crude oil contaminating agricultural lands and fish ponds in the vicinity. The area is now covered in a thick layer of oil, and the overpowering smell of crude oil has led to widespread discontent among the local population.

Monimanik Gogoi, a prominent social activist and resident, emphasized the dangers posed by the aging oil pipelines in the region. He recounted the events of the night, noting the loud noise and subsequent oil spill. “While the response teams from Oil India acted swiftly to manage the situation, the pipeline is outdated and should have been replaced long ago,” Gogoi stated.

He also highlighted that the village is surrounded by several oil facilities, including two oil collection stations, and criticized the haphazard installation of pipelines that traverse agricultural areas and roads. “Given the proximity of these oil facilities, the presence of old and poorly installed pipelines presents a grave risk to both life and property. Oil India must prioritize the replacement of these aging pipelines and ensure the entire network is properly maintained to avert a major disaster,” he added.

In response to the incidents, local residents organized a protest at the site, voicing their concerns to OIL officials and accusing the company of only implementing temporary fixes following the initial leak.