The tragic death toll from the fire incident at an Oil India Limited (OIL) facility in Assam's Dibrugarh district has reached four, following the death of another injured worker on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The disaster, which unfolded at the company's Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) in Tengakhat, has prompted immediate administrative action and an internal investigation into the safety protocols followed at the site.
According to official reports, the fire erupted on the afternoon of November 6 during scheduled maintenance work. The blaze proved fatal for multiple personnel on-site, with one individual reported deceased on the day of the incident, followed by two more deaths the following day. On Sunday, a mechanical helper identified as Sailen Gogoi, who had been receiving medical care at a private hospital in the region, also succumbed to his injuries, bringing the total number of fatalities to four.
Authorities have confirmed that all the victims were employees of Spectron Engineering Private Limited, a Mumbai-based firm contracted by the public sector undertaking for operations at the facility. In addition to the four fatalities, three other individuals who were wounded during the explosion remain under medical supervision, with officials describing their conditions as critical.
In response to the growing crisis, OIL has initiated a high-level inquiry to determine the exact circumstances and potential lapses that led to the explosion. As an immediate disciplinary measure, the PSU has placed four of its own personnel under suspension. These individuals, which include three officers, were reportedly in charge of the Intermediate Tank Farm at the time of the fire. Officials stated that the suspension will remain in force until the high-level investigation is concluded.
The facility where the accident occurred, known as an ITF, serves as a temporary storage hub for petroleum products before they are transported or processed further. The loss of life and the severity of the fire have drawn significant attention from state and central leadership. OIL reported that Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have been closely monitoring the situation to ensure accountability and adequate support for the families involved.
Minister Sonowal, who serves as the Lok Sabha MP representing Dibrugarh, reached out to OIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Ranjit Rath to receive a detailed briefing on the incident. Similarly, Chief Minister Sarma has instructed his principal secretary to maintain continuous communication with the OIL leadership. The state administration is focused on ensuring that the survivors receive the best available medical treatment and that the families of the deceased are provided with appropriate compensation.
To assist the grieving families, the public sector undertaking has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased worker. Furthermore, the company has pledged ₹5 lakh to each of the injured personnel to assist with their medical and recovery costs. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on identifying the technical or human failures that triggered the explosion, as well as reinforcing safety standards to prevent future occurrences at similar storage facilities across the region.
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