The leaking well subsequently caught fire on 9 June 2020,[1] and resulted in three deaths (Officially), large-scale local evacuations, and environmental damage to the nearby Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri-Motapung Wetland.
[9] Baghjan Oil Field is located near the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam,[10] and is also in proximity to Maguri Motapung Beel, a natural wetland.
[8] On 18 January 2020, the Central Government exempted all oil and gas firms conducting exploratory drilling from legal requirements for environmental clearances.
[13] During May 2020, prior to and during the leak, Tinsukia district in Assam experienced heavy rains and flooding in two local rivers, Dibru and Lohit.
[7] The Eco-Sensitive Zone around Dibru-Saikhowa National Park was reduced in size at the request of Oil India Limited in order to allow the well to be established.
[25] On 20 May 2020, before the leak, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced that they would be authorizing exploration for hydrocarbons under the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, at seven different locations.
[26] Oil India Limited stated that they would be using Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) to explore these wells without entering the National Park itself.
[8] Reports of the sound of the explosion were also confirmed from residents of Tinsukia town, which is located at a distance of 12 kilometres from the Oil Field.
[11] At 10:30 a.m, the blowout occurred, resulted in the leak of natural gas from the well, and causing a complete suspension in operations.
[23] Oil India Limited's official statement indicated that the well had "suddenly became very active" while workover operations were ongoing.
[3] On 29 May 2020, the carcass of a Gangetic dolphin covered in condensated oil was found in the Maguri Motapung Beel, a local wetland, and sent for a post-mortem by the Tinsukia Wildlife Division, to establish the cause of death.
[8] On 31 May 2020, Assam Government officials confirmed that the State Pollution Control Board was investigating environmental damage as a result of the leak.
[29] Following the leak, the State Forest Department had also asked Oil India Limited to account for its actions after reports of dead fish in local waterbodies.
[40] On 30 May 2020, four days after the initial leak, a spokesperson from Oil India Limited confirmed that "The well control operation is yet to start.
"[8] Oil India Limited officials also stated that the process of controlling the well would take time, and that they were currently making arrangements to secure a water supply to help mitigate the leak.
[41] In June 2020, Oil India Limited officials stated that they had constructed a temporary reservoir of water in the vicinity of the well, by placing pipes from the Dangori river.
[3][42] Initial efforts to control the leak were delayed because of severe flooding in Assam, which caused widespread damage and resulted in the deaths of 16 persons.
[46] Oil India Limited officials stated that the reason for the failure was that a valve in the well casing collapsed.
[5] Two firefighters employed by Oil India Limited died on 10 June 2020 while fighting the fire resulting from the gas leak.
[55] As of September 2020, 500 persons are currently still residing in relief camps, with the surrounding area still being affected by audible sounds of the gas leak as well as the ongoing fire.
[46] On 25 June 2020, the National Green Tribunal found a prima facie case had been made out against Oil India Limited for damage to the environment and local livelihoods because of the leak.
[57] On 30 May 2020, an Oil India Limited spokesperson stated to press that a five-member investigative committee had been established to ascertain the causes of the blowout and leak.
[58] The initial leak at the Baghjan Oil Field resulted in the contamination of water bodies in the nearby Maguri Motapung Beel wetland, as well as in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
[8] Days after the leak, local forest officials reported seeing a layer of gas condensate on water bodies in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
[46] On 12 June 2020, the Assam state government ordered an investigation into the environmental impact of the leak, and asked for a report within a month.
[14] Oil India Limited objected to this notice of closure, stating that it could potentially result in more blowouts at the wells.
Hope, because of the enormous interest raised by ordinary citizens during a time when they were atomised by pandemic-induced lockdowns, where seams of the conflict and violent history were dug out as evidence of corporate greed and governmental collusion.
Despair, because none of the contentious history and complicated contemporary realities seem to have found their way into the responses of the state (including the Gauhati High Court), the public sector (OIL, ONGC and CIL), or the tea companies.
[63] The Wildlife Institute of India's report stated that the leak would have "....prolonged ill effects on all life forms, including humans," in the area.
The expert committee was constituted after a preliminary report requested by the Tribunal revealed that there were errors in internal safety procedures that resulted in the incident.