Haldia, West Bengal (HRNW)- At least 15 people were injured, several of them critically, after a fire broke out at the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) oil refinery in Haldia, authorities said.
According to Indian media reports, the incident occurred between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, when a fire suddenly erupted in one of the refinery’s pipelines. The flames spread rapidly, leaving several workers at the site with burn injuries.
Fire brigade and rescue teams rushed to the refinery after receiving the emergency call and brought the blaze under control after several hours of firefighting efforts. All injured workers were shifted to nearby hospitals, where they are receiving medical treatment. Hospital officials said the condition of some of the victims remains critical.
The refinery management stated that preliminary information suggests the fire may have started during an alleged attempt to steal oil from the pipeline. However, officials emphasized that a formal investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Following the fire, authorities sealed off the affected area while technical experts began inspections to assess the damage and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Haldia Petrochemicals Limited refinery is one of eastern India’s major industrial facilities, producing a wide range of petrochemical products. Authorities have assured that appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible once the investigation is completed.
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