12 publishers · first seen Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:20 UTC · updated Tue, 03 Nov 2026 04:03 UTC
A major fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on November 2, 2026. The fire, which reportedly originated in the Pitch Tower of the Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF), caused thick black smoke and flames that alarmed nearby residents. HPCL's internal Fire and Safety Department responded promptly, using their own fire tenders to control the blaze without the need for external assistance. Authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by a technical committee. HPCL assured that the primary processing units remain operational, and fuel supply chains will not be affected.
The fire was localized to the pitch tank area, and automated safety protocols allowed personnel to evacuate safely. The HPCL refinery, with a capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum, is India's first East Coast Oil refinery, commissioned in 1957. The incident follows a similar explosion at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) oil refinery in September 2026, which resulted in one death and eight injuries.
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