Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will permanently cap a leaking natural gas well in Sivasagar district, where a blowout has continued for over a week.
The well, located in the eastern Assam district, has been leaking gas since June 12 due to a blowout— an uncontrolled release of gas caused by the failure of pressure containment systems. ONGC, along with experts and emergency personnel, has been engaged in intensive efforts to manage the crisis.
Taking to X, Sarma said, “After exploring multiple approaches with great effort and precision, ONGC is now advancing with a more practical and safer strategy to cap the leak. Close to 50 per cent of the groundwork — such as site preparation and equipment mobilisation — has already been completed.”
Also read: Assam CM writes to Centre, raps ONGC over gas blowout
In a major development, a team of experts from the United States has arrived at the site to provide technical assistance. Full-scale containment operations under the revised plan are scheduled to begin Saturday.
“A team of experts from the United States is reaching the site this evening to provide additional insights and support. Full-scale operations under the new plan are set to begin tomorrow,” Sarma confirmed.
The capping operation is expected to take an additional 5–6 days. CM Sarma urged the affected residents to remain calm and cooperative during the operation. “I request the affected residents to be patient and to cooperate with the efforts,” he said.
The Chief Minister also stated that both the state and central governments are monitoring the situation round the clock. “We are fully committed to ensuring safety, restoring normalcy and resolving the issue at the earliest,” he assured.
Since the leak began, approximately 330 families living near the well have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. The displaced residents, currently taking shelter in a local school, have been provided with Rs 25,000 each by the state government as an interim relief package.
Authorities continue to keep a close watch on the situation, as containment teams work against the clock to bring the blowout under control and prevent any long-term environmental or safety hazards.
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