India, June 20 -- Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday informed that state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will permanently cap one of its natural gas wells in Assam from where gas has been leaking for the past one week.

The gas well in Sibasagar district has been witnessing a blowout, an uncontrolled release of gas (or fuel) due to the failure of pressure control systems, since June 12 leading to fears of it becoming flammable or causing environmental damage to the area. Despite efforts, engineers from ONGC have failed to close the leakage.

"ONGC has informed us today that after failing to control the leak over the past week, they have now decided to permanently cap the well. A team of experts from the US have ...