Massive blaze at HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam; flames engulf pitch tank, cause under probe

A major fire erupted late on Monday night at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in the Gajuwaka industrial area of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The blaze broke out around 10.15 pm in the Malkapuram area near Sriharipuram, causing widespread panic among local residents and refinery workers.

Emergency response and site containment

Flames soared into the night sky from a pitch tank located within the facility's Residue Upgradation Facility. The tank held Ruf Pitch Oil, a highly viscous intermediate material used to produce bitumen. Dense clouds of black smoke billowed across neighbouring localities because of the thick nature of the stored product.

Commuters travelling along nearby roads filmed the soaring flames on mobile phones. These videos spread rapidly across social media platforms, heightening public anxiety. Frightened by the rising smoke and bright fire, residents in nearby colonies ran out of their houses into the open.

Workers inside the premises reported hearing a loud blast sound right before the flames started. While local rumours suggested an oil tank explosion, refinery sources indicated that a tank blast was unlikely. Investigations into the exact cause are ongoing, though preliminary reports point to a possible overhead electrical line defect.

Firefighting operations and safety precautions

Refinery fire crews and city fire engines were dispatched immediately. Deputy Inspector of Factories V. Suresh confirmed that five specialised refinery fire tenders were deployed. Regional Fire Officer Niranjan Reddy stated that firefighters used foam to battle flames at two specific spots whilst taking up cooling measures. Although crews brought the main fire under control, thick smoke continued to billow from the pitch unit.

As a safety precaution, officials shut off the electrical power supply to the affected zone and evacuated all refinery personnel to safe locations. Police units secured the surrounding perimeter to keep onlookers away from the facility. Authorities confirmed that no injuries or deaths occurred, though full property damage will be assessed on Tuesday.