Major Fire breaks out at HPCL plant in Visakhapatnam, 5 tenders at spot

NEW DELHI: A massive fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) plant in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday afternoon. According to sources, the fire erupted in the crude distillation unit in the HPCL old terminal.

An emergency siren was immediately sounded following which the employees and workers rushed out of the unit.

"There was a deafening sound like a blast and there was a ball of fire. The siren was sounded and we all came running out to safety," some workers said, coming out of the plant.

No casualties have been reported so far. In view of the fire incident, the district authorities rushed several teams of fire tenders to the spot.

A fire-fighting operation is currently underway and the fire-affected areas of the HPCL plant are being evacuated.

The cause of the incident yet to be ascertained.

DCP Aishwarya Rastogi said, "As per information, a blast reported at Unit-3 plant in HPCL. Five fire tenders are present at the spot. More fire tenders are being rushed. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained."

According to sources, the fire erupted in the crude distillation unit in the HPCL old terminal. An emergency siren was immediately sounded following which the employees and workers rushed out of the unit. "There was a deafening sound like a blast and there was a ball of fire. The siren was sounded and we all came running out to safety," some workers said, coming out of the plant. Fire tenders at the plant and also from outside were rushed into put out the blaze and the operation was continuing.

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