A major fire broke out at state-owned HPCL refinery-cum-petrochemical complex here Friday evening, killing two persons and injuring 37 people, police said.
The fire broke out at 4 pm and was brought under control after ome time. The exact cause of the accident could not be ascertained, HPCL officials said.
Two workers were killed in the accident and 37 people were undergoing treatment at various hospitals, out of whom the condition of three to four persons was stated to be critical, they added.
As per initial reports, the fire broke out due to blasting of cooling tower due to short circuit.
A majority of the injured workers belonged a private firm working for the cooling tower. A thick layer of smoke engulfed the area causing panic among nearby residents. They said they heard a massive sound from the scene and plumes of smoke billowed out of the area.
"All other units of the refinery are safe. But as a precautionary measure, we will have to shut down some units," HPCL Director (Refineries) B.K. Namdeo said.
The firm has shut part of its 166,000 barrel per day (bpd) Vizag refinery after the fire in the cooling tower. A company source on Friday said the firm closed a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) and a gasoline unit at the refinery, which sends most of its petroleum products to domestic markets.
"We have shut some of the secondary processing units as a precautionary measure because there will be a shortage of cooling water," said this source, who is not authorised to speak to the media.
"There was a fire in the cooling tower. It has been contained and has not spread to other areas," HPCL Chairman S. Roy Choudhury said, adding the extent of the damage and impact on production was not immediately known.
Fire tenders from all over the city were pressed into service to control the fire. The injured persons were shifted to various hospitals, including the INS Kalyani.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed anguish over the incident and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families. He directed the District Collector and the Police Commissioner to take up rescue operations and provide necessary medical assistance to the victims.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investment Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao asked the officials to shift the injured to corporate hospital for immediate treatment. He asked the joint inspector of factories to conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident.
In September 1997, fifty six workers were killed in a major fire accident in the refinery due to spark in LPG pipeline between port and Vizag refinery.
HPCL directors are rushing to accident site and the company has already instituted an inquiry to go into the cause of the accident. The company will take care of all medical and other expenses including compensation for the injured, a company spokesperson said.
The fire broke out at 4 pm and was brought under control after ome time. The exact cause of the accident could not be ascertained, HPCL officials said.
Two workers were killed in the accident and 37 people were undergoing treatment at various hospitals, out of whom the condition of three to four persons was stated to be critical, they added.
As per initial reports, the fire broke out due to blasting of cooling tower due to short circuit.
A majority of the injured workers belonged a private firm working for the cooling tower. A thick layer of smoke engulfed the area causing panic among nearby residents. They said they heard a massive sound from the scene and plumes of smoke billowed out of the area.
"All other units of the refinery are safe. But as a precautionary measure, we will have to shut down some units," HPCL Director (Refineries) B.K. Namdeo said.
The firm has shut part of its 166,000 barrel per day (bpd) Vizag refinery after the fire in the cooling tower. A company source on Friday said the firm closed a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) and a gasoline unit at the refinery, which sends most of its petroleum products to domestic markets.
"We have shut some of the secondary processing units as a precautionary measure because there will be a shortage of cooling water," said this source, who is not authorised to speak to the media.
"There was a fire in the cooling tower. It has been contained and has not spread to other areas," HPCL Chairman S. Roy Choudhury said, adding the extent of the damage and impact on production was not immediately known.
Fire tenders from all over the city were pressed into service to control the fire. The injured persons were shifted to various hospitals, including the INS Kalyani.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed anguish over the incident and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families. He directed the District Collector and the Police Commissioner to take up rescue operations and provide necessary medical assistance to the victims.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investment Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao asked the officials to shift the injured to corporate hospital for immediate treatment. He asked the joint inspector of factories to conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident.
In September 1997, fifty six workers were killed in a major fire accident in the refinery due to spark in LPG pipeline between port and Vizag refinery.
HPCL directors are rushing to accident site and the company has already instituted an inquiry to go into the cause of the accident. The company will take care of all medical and other expenses including compensation for the injured, a company spokesperson said.
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