A day after a major fire at the Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inspected the site and reviewed the situation. He spent nearly two-and-a-half hours in discussions with officials and surveyed the area where the fire broke out. The Chief Minister, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Jogaram Patel and Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, arrived at the refinery around noon on Tuesday.
Prior to the Chief Minister’s visit, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state investigative agencies had already reached the site. Security measures were heightened at the refinery, with strict controls on entry at important gates. Minister Jogaram Patel announced the formation of a committee to investigate the incident and assured that any technical deficiencies would be addressed promptly to resume refinery operations.
The fire, which started in the Crude Distillation Unit on Monday afternoon, was visible from a distance due to massive flames and thick smoke. Firefighting teams worked for over two hours to contain the blaze successfully. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The refinery, constructed at a cost of Rs 79,459 crore, was set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21, but the event was postponed following the fire.
Preparations for the inauguration had been ongoing for more than a week, with a large dome structure erected at the public meeting venue near the refinery to accommodate around two lakh people. However, the temporary structures were being dismantled on Tuesday. Officials indicated that only a limited part of the refinery was impacted, and teams from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) are assessing the damage. Minister Patel mentioned that a detailed technical report will be prepared, and corrective actions will be taken soon.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed concern over the incident, describing it as unusual for a new refinery. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into how such an event could occur at a recently constructed facility.
