Major fire breaks out at HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam

New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam on Monday after people in the area reported hearing sudden explosion sounds coming from inside the complex. The blaze caused thick plumes of black smoke to billow high into the sky, drifting over several nearby neighbourhoods and sparking widespread concern among local residents.

According to initial reports from the ground, the fire reportedly broke out at a sulphur pitch tank situated within the premises. The sudden eruption triggered immediate emergency protocols across the refinery premises.

Addressing the incident, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi confirmed the development and stated that the fire is confined to the tank and poses no threat to other sections of the refinery. His statement helped calm growing anxieties in the surrounding residential pockets.

Emergency response and firefighting

HPCL fire tenders and other firefighting teams are engaged in controlling the blaze, working steadily to bring the situation under total control. Multiple units were mobilised without delay to douse the flames before they could affect adjacent operational units.

Official assessment and current status

Authorities said that the smoke is not considered hazardous, and so far, no deaths have been reported. The medical and disaster teams on standby noted that no worker or staff member had sustained life-threatening injuries during the initial blast.

Firefighting operations are continuing, with authorities closely monitoring the situation as teams work toward completing cooling measures across the affected tank.