'This Is Not a Leak—It’s a Warning': How India's Energy Backbone Is Cracking

For an energy-dependent nation like India, the stability and safety of its oil and gas infrastructure are paramount. Yet, the recent uncontrolled gas leak at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) Rudrasagar Field in Assam's Sivasagar district raises urgent concerns—not only about technological preparedness, but also about public safety, transparency, and institutional response mechanisms.

The blowout at Well RDS-147 (Rig SKP‑135), which began on June 12 during a servicing operation, remains uncontrolled even on the fifth day. This is not ONGC’s first such crisis. From the five-month-long Baghjan inferno in 2020 to the Mumbai High disasters in 2005 and 2014, the pattern of prolonged blowouts is alarming. Clearly, India’s upstream oil giants require more than patchwork responses—they need structural overhaul.

The Numbers That Speak Loudest

A 46-year study of chemical accidents in Saudi Arabia found fires accounted for 54%, toxic gas clouds 25.4%, and explosions 20.6%. India’s oil and gas industry follows a similar trend, with operational lapses, aging infrastructure, and safety oversights driving many of these incidents.

In Sivasagar, nearly 70 families—about 1,500 people—have been evacuated. A joint force of 36 SDRF and Fire & Emergency Services personnel (on rotational duty), along with more than 30 NDRF responders, is on-site. Despite their efforts, the leak remains uncontained—raising an urgent question: Are India’s disaster forces adequately equipped to handle oilfield-scale emergencies?

While trained for flood relief and urban fires, these teams lack access to industry-grade tools like blowout preventers (BOPs) and the advanced techniques needed for subterranean gas control. Specialized international firms like Boots & Coots or Alert Disaster Control are typically called in for such situations.

This is not a failure of SDRF or NDRF—but a misalignment of expertise. Complex well control should not rest solely on civil response teams. Oil companies must proactively invest in contingency preparedness, pre-contracting global experts and maintaining rapid deployment strategies.

Rudrasagar: Five Days and Counting

The leak began on June 12 during routine maintenance at ONGC’s RDS-147A well in Rudrasagar. Toxic gas emissions quickly spread, prompting mass evacuations. ONGC confirmed a “well control situation,” but five days later, containment remains elusive.

Officials have called in a blowout control team, but no clear timeline for resolution has been announced.

Mismatched Response Capacity

Disaster experts point to a mismatch between the emergency responders’ general training and the technical demands of well blowout control.

“These forces are excellent in managing floods and structural fires,” said a retired ONGC geologist, “but a gas well blowout needs mud circulation, top-kill techniques, and real-time BOP deployment—skills and gear civil agencies simply don’t carry.”

It’s a preparedness failure at the upstream corporate level, not on-ground execution.

Residents in Fear, Communication in Silence

Villagers have reported respiratory discomfort, eye irritation, and widespread anxiety. Some fear the gas might ignite via underground channels—a technical misunderstanding, since sand is non-flammable. But the emotional distress is real.

Adding to the frustration is ONGC’s limited public communication.
“They live in gated quarters—we breathe the gas,” one resident said. “There’s no compensation, no explanation—only silence.”

The ONGC Response: What They Say

In a press release issued today from New Delhi, ONGC stated that it has deployed its most experienced Crisis Management Team (CMT) with a proven track record in well control operations. The company acknowledged geological challenges and stressed its adherence to stringent safety protocols.

ONGC highlighted the steps taken post-incident, including:

• Coordinated evacuation of families in partnership with the district administration;

• Provision of shelters, food, clean water, and essential supplies;

• Round-the-clock medical camps with doctors and medicines;

• Continuous communication with administration, media, and local leaders.

“ONGC is making all-out efforts to bring the gas leak under complete control at the earliest,” the statement noted, expressing gratitude for the support extended by locals, government agencies, and media.

While these efforts are commendable, critics say they are reactive, not preventive—and do little to address the structural flaws that led to the blowout.

Guwahati: PBGPL Pipelines and the Perception of Risk

Meanwhile, in Guwahati, where the Purba Bharati Gas Pipeline Limited (PBGPL) is laying down the city’s pipeline distribution network, public apprehension is high. It’s not helped by recent incidents, including a hydrotest explosion in December 2023 and a minor air leak in January 2025—both of which were testing-related and occurred before gas supply began.

But while public frustration is understandable, it’s important to make a factual distinction: these incidents were part of routine pipeline safety checks—air and hydrostatic testing. PBGPL promptly contained these with no casualties. The pipelines are buried 1.5 meters deep, x-rayed for weld strength, and coated for corrosion resistance, with extensive documentation under PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board) compliance.

Contrast this with ONGC’s operational wellhead, which sits atop high-pressure gas reservoirs. Once compromised, such sites become exponentially more dangerous than surface-level pipelines used only for distribution.

Narengi Fire: A Separate Yet Telling Case

Still, public wariness is understandable. On April 30, 2025, a fire broke out at Oil India Limited’s Narengi pipeline office. A local resident noticed smoke and alerted Chandmari Fire & Emergency Services, who quickly responded. The fire, reportedly caused by testing sparks, damaged property worth ₹10 lakh—but caused no casualties.

While this fire was unrelated to PBGPL, it reinforces the point: Even administrative setups carry risk if safety protocols aren’t diligently followed.

In the ONGC vs. PBGPL debate, the contrast is clear. PBGPL’s issues stemmed from safety tests, not operational failure. ONGC’s problems arise from live well operations gone awry—carrying far more explosive consequences.

A Sector Desperately in Need of Reform

India’s hydrocarbon sector, especially in densely populated and ecologically fragile zones like Assam, cannot afford these failures. The trends are global—chemical accident studies show fires, leaks, and explosions dominate industrial disasters. Yet reform in India remains slow and reactive.

Despite the Baghjan tragedy of 2020, little has changed. Rudrasagar is proof that institutional learning has been superficial.

The Way Forward: Structural, Not Cosmetic Fixes

India must treat the Rudrasagar incident as a final wake-up call.

Key reforms needed:

• Pre-approved contracts with international well-control specialists;

• Third-party safety audits every 2–3 years for all live wells;

• Real-time public dashboards on leak status and containment efforts;

• Predefined compensation structures to be triggered automatically during such events.

ONGC, as the country’s oil flagship, must lead by example—upgrading both safety preparedness and public communication.

Conclusion: Gas Leaks Erode More Than Just Pressure

The Rudrasagar crisis underscores a deeper issue: the erosion of public trust in oilfield governance. While ONGC’s upstream lapses continue to jeopardize lives, downstream players like PBGPL show greater transparency and risk control—even amid teething issues.

India cannot keep reacting to each blowout with post-crisis firefighting. It needs strategic foresight, robust accountability, and honest engagement with the public.

Because when gas escapes, it isn’t just pressure lost—it’s confidence lost. And that, for a nation banking on energy security, is the most dangerous leak of all.

Also Read: 48 Hours, No Control: ONGC Gas Leak in Sivasagar Sparks Baghjan Fears