Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: A fatal explosion at Oil India Limited’s Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh, has prompted calls for a high-level probe. The blast occurred on November 6 during technical work in the crude oil storage section. Workers were operating a valve when the fire ignited. It remains unclear exactly what sparked the blaze.
Official reports on casualties vary. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reported three deaths and four people critically injured. Deputy Commissioner Bikram Kairi confirmed the death of Raju Dutta and later Tapas Gogoi, 40, who died at 3 a.m. on November 7. Other injured workers include Sailen Gogoi, 45, Kumud Gogoi, 38, Golap Dutta, 58, and Indra Gogoi, 40. All affected staff were employees of the Mumbai-based firm Spectron Engineers Private Limited.
Rajya Sabha MP Terash Gowalla wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an independent government inquiry. He wants a safety audit of all North East installations. Gowalla demanded compassionate employment for dependents and full medical coverage for the injured. "The affected workers belonged to economically weaker families," Gowalla noted. The Oilfield Protection and Public Welfare Committee also demanded a central agency investigation. They alleged oil leakage had plagued the site for some time.
The committee questioned how this happened with security present from the Assam Police Battalion, CISF, Home Guards, and retired military officers. They are seeking 2 crore rupees in compensation for each deceased family. Oil India management is currently meeting with families to discuss financial aid packages. Meanwhile, a technical expert team is examining the site to identify potential negligence. The fire was brought under control on November 7 after crews cut off tank connections.
Updated at 8th November 2026 at 1:50pm
Oil India Limited has suspended four personnel, including three officers and one employee, citing dereliction of duty in the wake of the disaster. The company confirmed a third victim, Rupam Gohain, died at a Guwahati hospital after suffering severe burns. An engineer among the deceased, Tapas Jyoti Gogoi, had worked for the contractor for 13 years.
Management has set an ex gratia payment of 10 lakh rupees for each family of the deceased and 5 lakh rupees for every injured worker. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed his administration to stay in direct contact with company leadership to monitor the medical care and payout process.
Updated at 8th November 2026 at 5:50pm
The death toll has climbed to four following the death of Sailen Gogoi (45) of Padumoni village, who succumbed to his injuries while receiving care at a private hospital. The total number of confirmed fatalities now includes Raju Dutta, Tapas Jyoti Gogoi, Rupam Gohain, and Sailen Gogoi.
Company spokesperson Prankush Malla Buzarbaruah confirmed the suspension of four personnel, consisting of three officers and one employee, for dereliction of duty. Investigators report that nine workers were present at the site when the explosion triggered the fire.
Updated at 8th November 2026 at 9:47pm
The death toll reached four after Sailen Gogoi, 45, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital in Dibrugarh. Officials confirmed that two other workers, Phanit Gogoi and Panchanan Changmai, were at the site but escaped the blast without injury. Investigators pinpointed the origin of the fire to the Indirect Bath Heater area, noting the equipment had been isolated for maintenance since November 4.
Company spokesperson Prankush Malla Buzarbaruah confirmed the suspension of three officers and one employee for dereliction of duty. While the company has launched an internal inquiry to examine equipment failure and safety lapses, critics and retired OIL officials pointed to systemic issues: a reliance on undertrained contract laborers, a lack of alarm sensors on aging infrastructure, and a cost-cutting culture that prioritizes output over safety inspections.
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