A blast followed by a fire struck the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) plant at Kuthethoor, near Jokatte, north of Mangaluru, on Wednesday afternoon, injuring seven people and sending thick black smoke into the sky.
The explosion occurred around 12:25-12:30 pm at the Coker Hydrotreater (CHT) unit of the refinery, according to reporting by the Indian Express and Mathrubhumi. The blast was heard kilometres away, including in areas around Mangaluru International Airport. Residents of Jokatte and Surathkal said their houses shook and doors and windows vibrated; a local resident told media that windows, gates and glass panes were damaged.
One worker, Rajesh Baptist, sustained burn injuries covering about 35% of his body. He was shifted to Srinivasa Hospital and placed in the ICU; doctors said he was out of danger, according to the police briefing. Six other people suffered minor injuries at an adjacent office and received outpatient treatment. Police-based reporting puts the total injured at seven, though one outlet reported eight — the coverage read for this story does not resolve the discrepancy. Rajesh Baptist was named by the city police commissioner in official briefings.
The fire was brought under control, confirmed by police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH and MRPL. The affected unit was isolated, emergency and fire teams were deployed at the site, and fire tenders from the Pandeshwar and Kadri fire stations as well as the New Mangalore Port Authority rushed in.
MRPL confirmed there were no casualties and appealed against panic, while police said there was "no major cause for concern." Officials have not yet confirmed the exact nature and cause of the incident, and this article makes no claim about it.
Sources: Blast triggers fire at MRPL refinery in Mangaluru; one critically injured, six hurt (Mathrubhumi) | Loud explosion and thick smoke reported at MRPL refinery in Mangaluru (Indian Express)
The explosion occurred around 12:25-12:30 pm at the Coker Hydrotreater (CHT) unit of the refinery, according to reporting by the Indian Express and Mathrubhumi. The blast was heard kilometres away, including in areas around Mangaluru International Airport. Residents of Jokatte and Surathkal said their houses shook and doors and windows vibrated; a local resident told media that windows, gates and glass panes were damaged.
One worker, Rajesh Baptist, sustained burn injuries covering about 35% of his body. He was shifted to Srinivasa Hospital and placed in the ICU; doctors said he was out of danger, according to the police briefing. Six other people suffered minor injuries at an adjacent office and received outpatient treatment. Police-based reporting puts the total injured at seven, though one outlet reported eight — the coverage read for this story does not resolve the discrepancy. Rajesh Baptist was named by the city police commissioner in official briefings.
The fire was brought under control, confirmed by police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH and MRPL. The affected unit was isolated, emergency and fire teams were deployed at the site, and fire tenders from the Pandeshwar and Kadri fire stations as well as the New Mangalore Port Authority rushed in.
MRPL confirmed there were no casualties and appealed against panic, while police said there was "no major cause for concern." Officials have not yet confirmed the exact nature and cause of the incident, and this article makes no claim about it.
Sources: Blast triggers fire at MRPL refinery in Mangaluru; one critically injured, six hurt (Mathrubhumi) | Loud explosion and thick smoke reported at MRPL refinery in Mangaluru (Indian Express)
