Visakhapatnam oil refinery incident: Fire breaks out at HPCL facility in Vizag

A fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) facility in Vizag, Visakhapatnam on Monday night, according to police officials quoted by PTI.

No casualties have been reported so far.

Speaking ti PTI, Vizag police commissioner Shankabrata Baghci said, "A fire broke out in Vizag HPCL facility and there were no casualties."


The exact cause of the accident is yet to be confirmed by the oil marketing company, he added.

Visuals of towering column of fire accompanied by thick smoke, illuminating the night sky over the port city went viral on social media.

According to a TOI report, rumours of an explosion in the oil tank spread across the industrial area.

However, HPCL sources told the publication that the possibility of a tank explosion was considered low. Officials are examining the circumstances that led to the fire.

Further details on the matter are awaited.