Massive Fire at Haldia Refinery Pipeline Injures Several Workers

A major fire erupted in a naphtha pipeline at the Haldia oil refinery in India early Tuesday morning, according to Indian media reports.

Haldia Petrochemicals, the owner of the refinery located in West Bengal in eastern India, confirmed that several people were injured in the blaze. The fire occurred near an unauthorized naphtha theft point within the refinery's vicinity.

Local media had reported the fire outbreak in the early hours, sharing footage showing flames and thick smoke rising from the site.

In an official statement, the company said, "Preliminary information indicates that the incident happened near an unauthorized naphtha theft point close to the plant." They added that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The statement did not specify whether refinery operations were affected, stating only, "We are aware of an incident at our Haldia facility, with a few people reportedly injured."

Local sources told media outlets that many of the injured were transported to hospitals for treatment. The company emphasized that it had previously warned local communities about the dangers of unauthorized access to petroleum products as part of its standard safety precautions.

Train services between Haldia and Howrah were suspended as a safety measure following the incident.

Several workers seriously injured in the fire are receiving treatment at the Haldia Sub-district Hospital.