A gas well “blowout” at an existing well of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Assam’s Tinsukia district on May 27 had left natural gas leaping out to a height of above 20 feet. This resulted in mass evacuation of the local inhabitants and also the death of various aquatic animals.
The situation turned worse to apocalyptic on June 9, when fire engulfed the entire site. It is seen from a distance of around 40 km. two firefighters died on the spot.
The fire has been rated as Assam’s worst-ever oil well fire in more than a decade, reminding one of the fire at OIL well in Dikom in Dibrugarh in 2005. This a day after three experts from Singapore visited the site of the well blowout at Baghjan and carried out their assessment.
Freelance photographer Diganta Rajkhowa, being in the forefront this disaster captured the unfolding tragedy.
Pre-fire stage (Before June 9)
Post-fire stage (From June 9 onwards)
Diganta Rajkhowa is an electrical engineer and a freelance photographer who has been in the field of photography since 2010 and has been capturing images for 12 South Asian Games, Indian Super League to name a few. He is a resident of Duliajan and can be reached out in his email @digantarajkhowa@gmail.com