Gas leakage continues following blowout at ONGC well in Assam’s Sibsagar district.

Gas continued to leak from a well in ONGC’s Rudrasagar oil field in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district for the fourth consecutive day, raising serious concerns for the safety and well-being of local residents. The blowout occurred on June 12 at Well No RDS 147A, which was being operated by SK Petro Services on behalf of ONGC. As a result, 72 families have been evacuated and relocated to a relief camp in nearby Bangaon village, where they are unable to use stoves or cook due to the pungent smell of gas. Fortunately, no injuries or fire have been reported thus far. ONGC’s Crisis Management Team is working urgently to control the leakage, with Director (Technology & Field Services) Vikram Saxena overseeing the well-killing process. The incident happened during a perforation job for a zone transfer on an old, non-producing well. The exact cause of the blowout remains under investigation.

Pijush Hazarika, an Assam minister, evaluates the flood damage in Dibrugarh and guarantees long-term protection.

Assam Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika today conducted an on-site assessment of the flood-affected Bhogamur area in Khowang, Dibrugarh district, following a significant breach in the embankment caused by the rising waters of the Burhi Dihing River. The Minister assured residents of immediate repair efforts and committed to implementing robust, long-term flood protection measures.

 Due to the heatwave, the Assam government has revised the work hours for tea garden workers.

Amid soaring temperatures across Assam, the state’s Labour Welfare Department has rescheduled working hours for tea garden workers from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM to 6:00 AM–2:00 PM, effective immediately. The decision, announced on June 13, prioritizes the health and safety of outdoor workers exposed to extreme heat and harsh conditions. The new schedule, mandated in a notification signed by Secretary Abhijit Baruah, requires all district authorities, tea garden associations, and unions to ensure compliance. This move follows similar adjustments to school timings by Assam’s education department in response to the ongoing heatwave.

While awaiting Centre approval, Himanta Biswa Sarma teases plans for a new zoo in Dibrugarh.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has unveiled plans to establish a state-of-the-art zoo in Dibrugarh, modeled after the renowned Guwahati zoo. The state government has already initiated preliminary work and is actively seeking clearances from the National Zoo Authority in New Delhi. While the project timeline remains uncertain, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that construction would begin soon after receiving the necessary approvals. The proposed zoo is expected to become a major attraction in upper Assam, enhancing tourism and promoting wildlife conservation in the region.

38 amidst persistent communal tensions in Dhubri: CM of Assam.

In the wake of communal tensions following the repeated placement of cattle heads near a Hanuman temple in Dhubri town—triggered initially by the discovery of a cow’s head on June 7, after Eid-al-Adha—Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued shoot-at-sight orders at night and announced the arrest of 38 individuals overnight. The situation escalated with stone-pelting and further provocations, including inflammatory posters by the group ‘Nabin Bangla’ seeking to merge Dhubri with Bangladesh. Sarma emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against those desecrating temples and disturbing peace, deployed RAF and CRPF forces, and warned that anyone attempting violence would be dealt with severely. The district administration had earlier imposed and later lifted prohibitory orders as the situation fluctuated.

NIA charges ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah and two others in connection with the Assam IED bomb conspiracy.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against three individuals, including ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah, for their involvement in a conspiracy to carry out multiple IED blasts in Assam on Independence Day last year. Baruah, also known by several aliases, is the chairman and self-styled commander-in-chief of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I). Along with Abhijit Gogoi and Jahnu Boruah, he faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. The trio was linked to IEDs planted at Dispur Last Gate in Guwahati as part of a broader ULFA (I) plan to disrupt Independence Day celebrations. According to the NIA, the explosives were intended to cause death, injury, property destruction, and to threaten the unity and sovereignty of India by spreading terror among the public.

Assam police reorganisation: Himanta’s “shoot-at-sight” directive results in Leena Doley being moved to Dhubri.

The Government of Assam has announced a significant reshuffle of senior police officers, effective 13th June 2025. Amitava Sinha, previously serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (Organized Crime) with the CID, Assam, has been reassigned to Hailakandi, replacing Leena Doley. Doley, in turn, will now head to Dhubri as Senior Superintendent of Police, taking over from Navin Singh. Singh is set to take up Sinha’s former role at the CID. These strategic transfers are intended to optimize police operations and strengthen administrative processes across the state.

Cow head incident: 38 people are arrested as Assam IGP leads night patrols

Dhubri district in Assam witnessed heightened security and a major police crackdown on June 13, with Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Kumar Singh leading extensive patrols and the Rapid Action Force deployed across the town. Under direct orders from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, police arrested 38 individuals overnight from eight police stations for non-bailable offenses, signaling a strong commitment to restoring peace and safety in the region.

Assam: According to ONGC, efforts are being made to contain the gas flow at Sivasagar.

Efforts are currently underway to control a continuous gas leak from the RDS#147A well near Bhotiapar in ONGC’s Rudrasagar field, Sivasagar district. Following a dangerous explosion at the site on June 12, natural gas began gushing out uncontrollably, causing widespread panic and prompting the evacuation of around 70 families to a relief camp. ONGC’s Crisis Management team has mobilized emergency equipment and prepared the required fluids for a subdue operation, which is expected to commence at daybreak. Access to the site remains restricted to operational personnel due to the hazardous conditions, while local residents and authorities are urgently calling for swift containment and enhanced safety measures.

Crop Insurance Week” will be held in the Tamulpur district of Assam to inform farmers about compensation claims

Assam’s Tamulpur district is gearing up to observe “Crop Insurance Week” (Fasal Bima Saptah) from June 23 to June 29, 2025, with the aim of bolstering agricultural security and raising awareness among farmers about vital support systems. Organized by the district administration in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, the initiative will focus on educating approximately 10,000 farmers about the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and other agricultural schemes.
Key activities include comprehensive awareness meetings in all 20 Village Council Development Councils (VCDCs) across the district, with Customer Service Centres (CSCs) playing a pivotal role in outreach. District Commissioner Pankaj Chakravarty chaired the recent meeting where the decision to conduct the week was finalized, with participation from senior agriculture and administrative officials.
The campaign will guide farmers through the process of claiming compensation for crop damages caused by natural disasters or unforeseen circumstances under PMFBY, while also highlighting additional government support available to maximize agricultural benefits.

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