A loud explosion-like sound reported from the premises of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) in Mangaluru triggered an emergency response on Wednesday as thick black smoke rose from the refinery complex. Emergency personnel rushed to the site to assess the situation.
The sound was heard from areas close to the refinery according to residents who said that the impact was so strong that doors and windows shook. Emergency workers remained at the refinery to investigate what happened inside the facility.
MRPL officials confirmed that there was an incident at the refinery. But some details of what was the cause for the incident were not available. Authorities were yet to confirm whether anyone was injured or killed.
Loud Sound Shakes Nearby Homes
Residents in areas around the refinery also reported hearing the loud sound and experiencing its impact. Jokatte and Surathkal residents said the houses shook following the incident and doors and windows in some houses vibrated.
One local resident described the intensity of the sound, saying windows of their house and a panchayat building broke after a loud sound was heard at about 12:30 pm. The resident said people in the area were unsure about what had happened inside the refinery.
The reports from residential areas added to concerns as thick smoke was seen rising from the MRPL premises. Emergency vehicles heading to the refinery indicated response teams were dealing with an incident inside the industrial complex.
The sound was also heard at Mangaluru airport. Windows at the airport’s administrative office were rattled after the incident, the report said.
Fire Tenders And Ambulances Rushed To MRPL
Fire brigade vehicles were seen moving towards the refinery when emergency operations started. More fire tenders from Mangaluru were also sent to the MRPL premises to assist with the response.
Some ambulances were seen leaving the refinery site as emergency workers investigated the situation. But there was no official announcement of how many people might have been affected.
The presence of ambulances and fire tenders does not by itself prove there were casualties and officials were expected to provide more information later on.
But the refinery remained the site of emergency activity as officials scrambled to establish the nature and extent of the incident.
Mangaluru Airport Starts Safety Checks
The incident also prompted checks at Mangaluru International Airport after advice from the district administration.
Airport officials began a visual inspection of the key installations and peripheral roads in and around the airport. The inspection was to assess whether key airport infrastructure remained operational after the loud incident at the refinery.
Precision Approach Lighting Category I system was among the systems that were checked. Such lighting infrastructure is important for aircraft operations, particularly during approach and landing.
The airport checks were precautionary in nature and officials were assessing whether the reported impact had caused any visible damage or disruption to airport installations.
This was in close proximity to the airport and inspection was an important part of the response to the incident, but there was no immediate indication that flight operations were affected.
Cause Of Incident Awaited
At this stage, the precise cause of the loud noise and smoke from MRPL premises is not yet known. While the incident has been described as a blast or explosion-like event in initial reports, authorities did not immediately release details explaining what triggered it.
They were expected to assess the refinery premises and determine whether the incident involved equipment, an industrial process or another cause.
The main priority was emergency response and safety assessment at the refinery. Fire and emergency personnel continued their work and officials kept track of news of the incident.
We expect more information on the cause of the incident, the extent of damage, and whether or not someone was injured.
For many residents in the vicinity, the loud sound and the visible smoke gave rise to concern, especially after people said houses and buildings shook. There will likely be more clarity once the initial assessment at the refinery has been completed.
On the other hand, Mangaluru airport's visual inspections of critical installations and other important roads will help determine if the incident affected airport infrastructure. Additional official updates will be provided on the extent of the MRPL refinery incident in the future.
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