Flames tore through the HPCL facility in Visakhapatnam on Monday, sending a pillar of thick black smoke over the city and triggering widespread panic among residents in nearby localities. The blast, which occurred at the oil refinery, turned the industrial zone into a chaotic scene as emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze.
Vizag Police Commissioner Shankabrata Baghci addressed the media shortly after the incident, stating clearly that there were no casualties. "A fire broke out in Vizag HPCL facility and there were no casualties," Baghci said. He added that the cause of the explosion remains unascertained and that detailed assessments of the damage are pending.
The incident is part of a disturbing streak of industrial and commercial fires across India. Earlier on Monday, a major fire tore through an IT company building in Magnet Park, Thaltej, Ahmedabad. Nine people were hospitalized, with two in critical condition, after the blaze forced employees to jump from the structure to escape the smoke.
In Kolkata, fire crews are still cooling down the ruins of Lions Range, a multi-storey office building behind the historic Writers' Buildings. The fire there, which erupted Sunday night, caused no casualties but prompted a large-scale evacuation due to the building's proximity to government departments.
Authorities in Visakhapatnam are now focusing on containment and investigation. The HPCL refinery, a critical node in India's energy infrastructure, faces scrutiny as experts work to determine if the explosion was mechanical or structural. Updates on the extent of the damage are expected as the fire is brought under full control.