HPCL Refinery Fire in Visakhapatnam Doused; No Casualties Reported
A blast triggered a fire at the HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam. Authorities have extinguished the blaze and confirmed no injuries were reported.
Panic gripped parts of Visakhapatnam on Tuesday after a reported blast triggered a fire at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery. While the incident caused immediate alarm among locals and workers, authorities have confirmed that the situation is now under control and no injuries or casualties occurred.
Blast Triggers Sudden Blaze
The incident began with a small blast within the refinery premises, which quickly led to a fire. Eyewitnesses at the scene described a frightening sight, reporting that large flames were seen rising from the facility. The scale of the fire caused people in the vicinity to flee the area in fear, fearing a larger explosion or escalation.
Rapid Response and Containment
Emergency protocols were activated immediately to prevent the fire from spreading. Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Dileep Chakravarthy, who visited the site to oversee the operations, stated that the blaze was successfully extinguished through a coordinated effort. The firefighting systems installed within the HPCL plant, supplemented by specialized equipment deployed by the Andhra Pradesh Fire Department, were used to bring the flames under control.
"There is no cause for worry, and no injuries or casualties have been reported. People are requested not to panic about the incident," said RDO Dileep Chakravarthy.
Safety Probe Initiated
While the immediate danger has been neutralized, the administration is now focusing on how the blast occurred. RDO Chakravarthy announced that a formal enquiry will be launched to investigate the industrial safety standards at the facility. The probe will examine whether the refinery was adhering to the applicable safety norms to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Officials have reiterated that the situation is fully under control and have urged the public to ignore rumors and remain calm.