Panic gripped Haldia, West Bengal, as a fire ignited in the naphtha pipeline at Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) refinery. The blaze, starting early in the morning, quickly escalated, causing injuries to several individuals who were promptly taken to a local hospital.
Firefighting efforts commenced swiftly with the arrival of two fire tenders, followed by a total of 12 fire tenders at the scene. Despite ongoing operations, the fire had not been completely contained by the time of reporting. The district administration, however, had not confirmed any fatalities at that point.
Reports indicated that around 35 individuals suffered burn injuries in the incident, with some in critical condition. The fire, suspected to have originated from a naphtha pipeline leak, led to intense flames that harmed workers in the vicinity. Train services connecting Haldia with Panskura were disrupted due to the incident’s proximity to the railway tracks.
Eyewitnesses and local residents initiated rescue operations, with state fire services personnel later joining the efforts. Injured individuals were initially taken to Haldia Subdivisional Hospital and then transferred to Tamluk Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. The cause of the fire, believed to be near an unauthorized naphtha theft point, was under investigation by relevant authorities.
