Former Assam goalkeeper killed in oil explosion

Durlov Gogoi, who represented Assam in several national level football tournaments in the junior level and a regular at OIL Football Club, was one of the casualties of the oil well explosion and fire at Baghjan in Tinsukia district.

Two bodies, including Durlov’s, were recovered from near the site on June 10 morning. The oil well caught fire on June 9 after a huge explosion.

The oil well operated by the state owned Oil India Limited (OIL) had developed a burst on May 27 and since then it continued to leak gas and associated condensate pausing threat to the lives and environment.

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OIL spokesman Tridiv Hazarika said that their bodies have been retrieved from a pond near the site. They were believed to jump in the pond when the explosion took place.

“We are pained to get the news of Durlov’s demise. I hope it’s not true,” Durga Boro, once a teammate of Durlov at OILFC told The Bridge.

Durga said that Durlov was his senior and had joined the OILFC in 2003 and stopped playing in around 2012. After that he was fully engaged in work with OIL.

“I came to know yesterday (June 9) that he was missing my worst fear come true today. I knew he couldn’t swim,” Durga said.

Apart from his stint with the OIL team, Durlov also represented the Assam team at the various national tournaments.

The other deceased has been identified as Tirtheswar Gohain.