Guwahati: A mysterious blast and consequent fire was reported from an oil field in Chandmari area of Makum in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district on Saturday, with the hardliner ULFA later claiming responsibility for it.
The blast was heard and flames seen immediately after it at about 0100 hrs on Saturday by residents of the area.
OIL authorities were alerted by the locals and the authorities along with fire tenders rushed to the spot.
The fire was doused after nearly four hours at about 0500 hrs by several fire tenders working together.
The OIL authorities as well as police are tightlipped about the cause of the blast and fire, with the possibility of involvement of oil thieves also not ruled out.
The hardliner ULFA has, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for the blast.
The outfit, in an emailed statement to media, said the blast was a part of its ‘exercise’ against companies ‘exploiting’ Assam’s resources.
It warned of continuing with such attacks in the future.
The outfit had claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past also, though authorities had later discredited their claims in a couple of such blasts in refineries earlier in the year. (UNI)
