A major fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday night (November 2), triggering panic among residents in nearby areas. The incident reportedly followed sounds of an explosion, with massive flames shooting into the sky and thick clouds of smoke spreading across the surrounding neighbourhoods.
According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out in a sulphur pitch storage tank at the refinery’s Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF), located in the Malkapuram area. The refinery’s internal firefighting team immediately launched emergency operations and managed to bring the blaze under control within a short time. Officials also took precautionary measures, including evacuating personnel from the affected area.
HPCL confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported and that all units at the refinery were functioning safely. Police officials also assured residents that the situation was under control and there was no immediate threat to other sections of the facility. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established, and authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
