India

Fire at Indian refinery sends flames skyward

Blaze breaks out at HPCL facility in Visakhapatnam; firefighters gain control, no casualties reported

Eliana Fleming

NOV 2, 2026 23:23

2 min read

Fire at Indian Oil Refinery Sends Flames and Smoke Skyward

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A large fire broke out Sunday night at a facility operated by the oil company HPCL in the city of Visakhapatnam, India. Massive flames rose high into the air and thick smoke was visible from a distance, as footage filmed by passersby spread rapidly on social media and caused alarm among residents of the area.

According to reports, the fire broke out near a storage tank containing a substance called Ruf Pitch Oil, which is used in the industry to produce bitumen. The footage that circulated showed high flames and heavy smoke visible from afar, causing concern among residents.

Following the incident, reports spread of an explosion in the oil tank, but at this stage there is no confirmation of this. Sources at HPCL estimated that the likelihood of an explosion in the tank is low, and professional officials began examining the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the fire.

The Visakhapatnam police commissioner, Shankabrata Bagchi, confirmed that a fire had broken out at the facility and clarified that no casualties were reported. According to the company's initial reports as well, there were no fatalities or injuries in the incident.

Firefighting teams from the refinery worked to bring the fire under control. At a later stage, control over the blaze was achieved, and the facility's firefighting forces continued operations to extinguish remaining pockets of fire.