Assam OIL facility fire: death toll rises to four as another injured dies; four suspended

Workers move away on November 6, 2026 as a massive fire rages after an explosion at Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) in Dibrugarh district. Photo credit: PTI

The death toll from a fire at an Oil India Ltd (OIL) plant in Assam’s Dibrugarh district rose to four, with another injured worker succumbing on Sunday (Nov 8, 2026), while the PSU suspended all four of its employees in charge of the site, officials said.

Three people who were also injured in the fire on Friday (November 6, 2026) are being treated in a critical condition.

All the victims were employees of Spectron Engineering Private Limited, a Mumbai-based company engaged by OIL.

One person was killed in the fire on the day of the incident, while two died the following day.

An assistant mechanic, Sailen Gogoi, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, died during the day, claiming four lives, the official said.

The fire broke out on November 6 following an explosion during maintenance work at OIL’s Intermediate Tank Farm (ITF) in Tengachat, the public sector undertaking said in a statement.

An ITF is a facility where petroleum products are temporarily stored in tanks before being transferred for further processing or transportation.

Meanwhile, OIL has launched a high-level inquiry to probe the incident, another official said.

The committee said it has suspended all four OIL employees who were in charge of the ITF, including three officers. “They have been suspended until the investigation is over,” the official added.

The PSU announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 5 lakh to each injured person.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were closely monitoring the situation, the PSU said on Saturday (November 7, 2026).

Mr. Sonowal, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Dibrugarh, called OIL CMD Ranjit Rath to take stock of the situation.

CM Sarma directed his principal secretary to be in touch with the chairman and managing director of OIL to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and adequate compensation for the families of those killed.

Published – 8 Nov 2026 19:21 IST