Tragic Workplace Accident Claims Life of Oil India Employee in Naharkatia
Fatal Incident at Drilling Site
Jorhat, Aug 4: A tragic incident occurred at a drilling site in Banhdhari, Naharkatia, where an employee of Oil India Limited (OIL) lost his life due to a workplace accident late Sunday night, raising significant concerns regarding safety protocols and equipment reliability.
The victim, identified as Kiran Gogoi, hailed from Kuwarijan village in Hudurpara and was the drilling in-charge at the NHK-40 M-1 rig. He was fatally injured when a large drilling pipe fell and struck him on the head, resulting in immediate death.
The rig was operated by Asian Drilling Tech, the contractor responsible for the ongoing drilling activities.
Witnesses reported that the incident unfolded unexpectedly, providing little opportunity for anyone to react.
“I yelled from above when it happened. The nearby rig workers managed to escape, but the heavy block fell directly on Kiran Gogoi, killing him instantly,” recounted a worker who witnessed the accident.
Despite claims that safety measures were in place, they evidently failed to avert this tragic event.
Local residents and workers have pointed fingers at outdated and poorly maintained machinery as a contributing factor to the accident. Allegations of negligence have surfaced, leading to demands for accountability.
Naharkatia MLA Taranga Gogoi visited the site shortly after the incident and called for a magisterial inquiry.
“This is a deeply unfortunate tragedy. There are questions about how the pipe fell. Many believe the rig was outdated, which could have caused this incident,” he stated.
The MLA also urged OIL to provide compensation to the grieving family and criticized the ongoing use of aging equipment at drilling locations.
“It is essential to enhance safety protocols across the industry to prevent such devastating incidents in the future,” he emphasized.
Kiran Gogoi was also recognized for his political involvement, serving as the president of the Kisan Morcha of the Naharkatia BJP Mandal.