A fire incident occurred at the Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, leading to the postponement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled inauguration on April 21. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed the deferment of the ceremony due to the unfortunate fire near the Crude Distillation Unit at the HRRL refinery.
The fire, which broke out following an explosion in the refinery’s Crude and Vacuum Distillation Unit, has been brought under control. Fortunately, there have been no casualties reported. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident, and a new inauguration date will be announced soon.
Emergency protocols were activated immediately, leading to the evacuation of the refinery premises as a precautionary measure. All personnel were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Firefighters worked diligently for nearly two hours to contain the blaze, with cooling operations and safety assessments currently in progress.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed deep concern over the incident, calling it “extremely unfortunate.” He emphasized the significance of the refinery to the state and extended his wishes for the safety of all involved. Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the fire’s cause and ensure necessary safety measures are in place.
