A major fire broke out at the Visakhapatnam HPCL refinery today, with raging thick smoke clearly visible to residents around the area. The police have said that there was a loud noise, with three sirens ringing at the same time, after which employees were evacuated, with firefighters trying to control the outbreak.
It is being said that there has been an old terminal accident at HPCL, but the exact section of where the accident took place, and why it occurred is yet to be known. Panic is ensuing among the people of Gajuvaka and Malkapuram, due to the accident, as the fire is clearly visible for kilometres from the area of the outbreak. It is being suspected that a large tank of fuel storage may have exploded, as it is common for carbon materials to be accumulated here for crude oil processing, and these carbon materials are known to explode occasionally. This time, locals believe that the explosion must have been bigger than usual, judging by the size of the fire and smoke.
Visakhapatnam HPCL has three units, and the accident seems to have taken place in the third unit of the CDU, which is said to be a very sensitive unit, containing the most flammable materials. Firefighters are constantly deployed in this wing, as there could be explosions at any time. Due to this reason, the fire is currently under control, with state-of-the-art equipment. The fire here cannot be controlled with water, and certain chemicals need to be sued to put out the fire.
Six staff members and some other workers were reportedly trapped in the unit at the time of the accident, who are now receiving medical attention, with the help of six ambulances that were brought to the place of the accident. Twenty firefighters are said to be extinguishing the fire currently.
As per HPCL it's just an incident in CD3 of HPCL at 3pm, no casualties & no risk to the public!!
Means, we shouldn't worry about the damage to #Environment, #PublicHealth & other #LivingCreatures due to this #AirPollution?#JanaSenaParty demand a sincere#IndustrialSafetyAudit. pic.twitter.com/K3SVAuu4kh
— satya bolisetti (@bolisetti_satya) May 25, 2021