OIL conducts large-scale disaster mock drill in Duliajan to test emergency preparedness

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 2, 2025

In a major step towards enhancing disaster preparedness, Oil India Limited (OIL) conducted a Tier-III off-site disaster mock drill at its field headquarters in Duliajan on March 29. The exercise, held at around 10 AM at CGGS-Madhuban near Duliajan town in Dibrugarh district, aimed to assess emergency response capabilities and inter-agency coordination in the face of a major industrial accident.

The mock drill simulated a high-risk scenario involving leakage of condensate in Tank-1001, leading to its rupture and subsequent failure of the Rich Gas-II line filter separator. This triggered a massive fire at Tank-1001, posing a severe hazard to the surrounding installations, including the Secondary Tank Farm-Madhuban, Intermediate Tank Farm-Tengakhat, Pump Station-1, and Pump Station-2 due to their proximity and connectivity.

Immediately following the simulated incident, OIL’s emergency response teams sprang into action. Employees swiftly executed isolation protocols for the affected tank and gas line while initiating firefighting measures. Several workers sustained simulated injuries during the drill, testing the efficiency of medical response mechanisms. The security, fire, and medical agencies were put on high alert, and emergency response protocols were activated without delay.

The large-scale drill involved multiple agencies, demonstrating a collaborative effort in tackling industrial disasters. Participants included teams from the Dibrugarh district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Duliajan Police Station. Additionally, mutual aid partners such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC), Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APL), and Duliajan Numaligarh Pipeline Limited (DNPL) also played critical roles in the exercise.

Firefighting operations, carried out by OIL’s Fire Services and its mutual aid partners, successfully contained the simulated blaze, while NDRF, CISF, and OIL medical teams coordinated rescue and relief operations.

Eshanul Sofi, Assistant Deputy Controller of Civil Defense, Duliajan, represented the District Commissioner and acted as the Chief Incident Controller during the drill. On behalf of OIL, Anita Dam, Resident Chief Executive (Officiating), led the response team.

Following the drill, a formal debriefing session was conducted to review the effectiveness of the response, identify areas of improvement, and enhance coordination among various agencies. Officials noted that the exercise provided valuable insights and strengthened confidence in handling real-life industrial emergencies.

The successful completion of this mock drill underscores OIL’s commitment to safety, preparedness, and collaborative disaster management efforts in safeguarding both its workforce and the surrounding community.