Fire breaks out at HPCL Visakh Refinery; no casualties reported

A major fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Visakh Refinery late on Monday evening. The fire reportedly originated in the Pitch Tower of the newly integrated Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF). The sudden explosion and intense flames caused brief panic among residents in neighbouring localities, according to the officials.

Reassuring the public, Malkapuram Inspector of Police E. Narasimha Rao issued a voice message that the situation was under control. He said that HPCL’s internal Fire and Safety Department responded immediately with their own fire tenders to suppress the blaze, eliminating the need for external fire engines. He confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries reported.

The RUF unit processes heavy vacuum residue oil into high-value clean fuels like diesel and petrol. High operating temperatures and dense petroleum pitch generated thick black smoke during the fire outbreak. Automated safety protocols allowed on-duty personnel to be evacuated safely while firefighting teams isolated the unit, preventing the flames from spreading to the adjacent facilities. Although no casualties were reported, structural damage within the pitch unit is expected to be significant.

When contacted, HPCL officials confirmed the incident, and said that a technical committee would investigate the exact cause of the fire. They added that the primary processing units remain operational and fuel supply chains will not be affected.