An active and notorious oil theft racket operating in Upper Assam has once again come under the scanner after a fire broke out at an abandoned ONGC oil well in the Nazira area, with authorities suspecting a crude oil theft angle behind the incident.
According to sources, miscreants have been targeting abandoned oil wells left behind by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), particularly in remote tea garden areas, to illegally siphon crude oil. Taking advantage of the absence of security personnel at several such oil fields, these groups have reportedly intensified their activities in recent months.
On Thursday afternoon, miscreants allegedly set fire to an old ONGC oil well located at Bamunpukhuri Tea Estate under the Nazira Co-District. The lack of adequate security at the site is believed to have facilitated the incident, raising serious concerns over the safety of abandoned oil infrastructure in the region.
The area narrowly averted a major disaster reminiscent of the Baghjan blowout, as densely populated residential zones, including large housing colonies of tea garden workers, are situated close to the affected site.
Following the incident, teams from the Nazira Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and, after sustained efforts, successfully brought the fire under control in Sectors 15 and 16. No casualties or injuries were reported.
While it remains unclear whether the fire was deliberately caused as part of an oil theft attempt or due to some other motive, officials said the exact cause would be ascertained only after a detailed police investigation.
Local residents have alleged that illegal crude oil siphoning from abandoned and concealed ONGC oil wells—especially those located within tea garden areas—has been going on for quite some time, posing a serious threat to public safety and the environment.
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