A massive fire engulfed a natural-gas producing well of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Assam's Tinsukia district. The oil well has been leaking gas for the last 14 days. Two firefighters also lost their lives. Smoke from the fire that began on the afternoon of June 9 was reportedly visible even 10 km away. Locals claimed the fire had spread to nearby villages. The Indian Air Force and the Army are assisting in the firefighting operations, after the Sarbananda Sonowal government requested for help. The Air Force has sent three fire engines, and the Army has also reached the location. The area has been cordoned off by paramilitary forces. 'Well killing' experts, who had been flown in on June 8 from Singapore, will reportedly take around four weeks to totally cap the well. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke to Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Industries Minister Chandramohan Patowary has been sent to the area to monitor the situation. The oil well at Baghjan Tinsukia, about 500 kms from Guwahati, had a blowout on May 27. It has been leaking gas for the past 14 days, causing grave damage to the region's wetlands and biodiversity. At least 6,000 people living in a 1.5 km radius of the natural gas producing well have been evacuated and placed in relief camps. Oil India Limited has also announced financial relief of Rs 30,000 to each to the affected families.
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