A major fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday night (November 2), sending nearby residents into panic. The flames and black smoke were seen rising from the industrial facility, and pictures of the incident soon started to circulate on social media.
The fire was reported around 10 pm at HPCL Visakh Refinery in the Gajuwaka industrial area. People living near the refinery were worried after hearing reports of an explosion, but later authorities and the company said that the fire was brought under control and no casualties or injuries were reported.
HPCL said the incident took place at a pitch intermediate storage tank on the refinery premises. The company’s Fire and Safety Team immediately activated its emergency response system and started firefighting operations.
The blaze was limited to the affected tank area and put out quickly. HPCL also said all refinery units were running safely after the incident.
Fire Breaks Out at HPCL Visakhapatnam Refinery
The incident took place at the HPCL refinery in the Malkapuram-Gajuwaka industrial belt of Visakhapatnam. Preliminary information is that the fire originated from a sulphur pitch tank (associated with the refinery's Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF)).
The fire produced huge flames which could be seen from nearby roads and residential localities. Thick smoke billowed in all directions, alarming people and commuters.
Some people living in nearby localities heard sounds like an explosion before they noticed the flames. However, the sequence of events and cause of the fire are not known yet.
Malkapuram police officials said the situation was brought under control without any loss of life or injury.
HPCL Fire and Safety Team Launches Emergency Operations
HPCL’s internal firefighting teams then rushed to the site and started efforts to put out the fire.
Six fire tenders were used in the emergency response. The refinery’s firefighting infrastructure helped control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the facility.
Power supply to the affected area was suspended and personnel were evacuated to safer places.
Fire stations in other parts of Visakhapatnam were also alerted. But the refinery’s firefighting teams did it all themselves without any outside help.
Police in Visakhapatnam told residents not to panic and said there were no casualties or injuries.
Explosion Reports Under Investigation
Initial reports said the explosion was a major one, but officials have not been able to confirm exactly what caused it.
Malkapuram police officials said the fire was in a sulphur pitch storage tank, while reports suggested that there may have been a small blast at the facility before the fire broke out.
The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Dileep Chakravarthy, who visited the spot, said the fire had been completely put out using the refinery’s firefighting equipment and resources from the Andhra Pradesh Fire Department.
He also said an inquiry would be held into industrial safety arrangements and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The cause of the fire and whether an explosion caused it will be found out after the investigation.
A massive fire broke out at the HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam, India. https://t.co/uSjKNvwCGf
— Vegas ʷ̣ (@vegasyx) November 2, 2026
Thick Smoke Triggers Panic Among Nearby Residents
The massive flames and thick smoke from the refinery panicked residents of nearby residential areas and industrial areas around Malkapuram and Sriharipuram.
Several residents reportedly fled the area after seeing the fire. Videos of flames in the night sky and thick smoke billowing over the industrial belt were widely shared on social media.
Police were stationed around the refinery to prevent people from entering the affected premises and to maintain safety during emergency operations.
Although the graphic images were shown, officials said that everything was under control and there was no immediate danger to employees or nearby residents.
HPCL Refinery Operations Continue Safely
The incident has called into question industrial safety and emergency preparedness at major petroleum facilities.
HPCL said the fire was contained to the pitch tank area, and all other refinery units operated safely. HPCL also said it would maintain safety standards and emergency response arrangements.
The latest incident will focus attention on fire prevention systems, storage tank safety and emergency preparedness at large industrial establishments.
More information about the cause of the fire, property damage, and the proposed inquiry’s findings will be needed.
So far, the immediate emergency at the Visakhapatnam HPCL refinery has been contained (no casualties or injuries reported).
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