Overview

• A three-member US well-control team led by Kenneth Wright, Robert Melancon and William McDonald commenced the final stage of capping operations at ONGC’s RDS-147A gas well in Bhatiapar on June 21.
• ONGC confirmed that initial Plan A and Plan B efforts to control the leak had failed, triggering the engagement of international specialists for the four-to-five-day sealing procedure.
• Hundreds of families have been evacuated from surrounding villages and relocated to relief camps where the Assam government is disbursing interim compensation of ₹25,000 per household.
• Authorities are employing water-blanketing and real-time monitoring as safety measures to guard against blowouts and manage fire and environmental risks.
• Officials caution that rising floodwaters could spread gas toward the Dikhow River and have pledged a formal investigation once the well is secured.