Fire Breaks Out at HPCL Visakhapatnam Refinery; No Casualties Reported

A fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam on the night of 2 November 2026, triggering concern among residents in the surrounding areas. The incident occurred at a pitch intermediate storage tank in the refinerys sulphur unit at around 10 PM. According to HPCL, its Fire and Safety Team immediately activated emergency response measures and brought the blaze under control within a short time. The fire remained confined to the affected tank area, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the refinery. HPCL confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident and that all refinery units continued to operate safely. Officials also stated that firefighting measures were promptly undertaken to contain the situation. The incident briefly caused concern among nearby residents after flames and thick smoke were spotted rising from the refinery. Authorities have indicated that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be examined, including industrial safety aspects. The prompt response by the refinerys emergency and safety teams helped bring the situation under control without any reported loss of life or disruption to other refinery operations.