Mangaluru, 30 Sept(HS) An explosion followed by a fire at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on Wednesday left one person with serious burns and six others with minor injuries, police said.

The fire at the refinery’s CHT unit, described as the Hydro Sulphur Treatment Unit, was brought under control, city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said.

Rajesh Baptist sustained burns covering about 35 per cent of his body and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Srinivasa Hospital. Doctors said he was out of danger.

Six others who suffered minor injuries at an adjoining office received outpatient treatment and underwent medical examinations, police said.

The explosion produced a loud boom that was heard several kilometres away, while thick black smoke rose from the refinery premises. Residents of Jokatte and Surathkal said their houses shook and doors and windows vibrated following the blast.

The sound was reportedly heard at Mangaluru airport, where windows in the administrative office rattled.

Fire tenders and emergency response teams rushed to the refinery, and ambulances were seen leaving the premises.

The police commissioner, deputy commissioner and Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer reached the site to oversee the situation. Police said there was no major cause for concern and necessary precautionary measures were being taken.

MRPL confirmed that no deaths had been reported and appealed to residents not to panic.

Following advice from the district administration, Mangaluru airport began a visual inspection of vital installations within and around its premises to assess their operational readiness.

The checks include the Precision Approach Lighting Category I systems and peripheral roads. The inspection follows reports of vibrations at the airport after the explosion.

The information released by police and MRPL did not specify the cause of the blast or detail the extent of damage to the refinery.

MRPL refinery blast injures seven; fire brought under control

Mangaluru, Sept 30: An explosion followed by a fire at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on Wednesday left one person with serious burns and six others with minor injuries, police said.

The fire at the refinery’s CHT unit, described as the Hydro Sulphur Treatment Unit, was brought under control, city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said.

Rajesh Baptist sustained burns covering about 35 per cent of his body and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Srinivasa Hospital. Doctors said he was out of danger.

Six others who suffered minor injuries at an adjoining office received outpatient treatment and underwent medical examinations, police said.

The explosion produced a loud boom that was heard several kilometres away, while thick black smoke rose from the refinery premises. Residents of Jokatte and Surathkal said their houses shook and doors and windows vibrated following the blast.

The sound was reportedly heard at Mangaluru airport, where windows in the administrative office rattled.

Fire tenders and emergency response teams rushed to the refinery, and ambulances were seen leaving the premises.

The police commissioner, deputy commissioner and Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer reached the site to oversee the situation. Police said there was no major cause for concern and necessary precautionary measures were being taken.

MRPL confirmed that no deaths had been reported and appealed to residents not to panic.

Following advice from the district administration, Mangaluru airport began a visual inspection of vital installations within and around its premises to assess their operational readiness.

The checks include the Precision Approach Lighting Category I systems and peripheral roads. The inspection follows reports of vibrations at the airport after the explosion.

The information released by police and MRPL did not specify the cause of the blast or detail the extent of damage to the refinery.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman