Visakhapatnam, November 2, 2026: A fire broke out late Monday evening at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, after reports of explosion sounds at the facility. The incident sent flames and thick smoke into the night sky and caused concern in nearby neighbourhoods.
NDTV reported that the fire was at a sulphur-pitch tank. Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi said the blaze was confined to the tank and did not pose a threat to other sections of the refinery. HPCL fire tenders and firefighting teams were deployed at the site.
In a later update published at 11:54 pm IST, India Today reported that the situation was under control. Malkapuram Circle Inspector E. Narasimha Rao said HPCL’s in-house fire personnel were continuing efforts to extinguish the remaining flames. Police said no loss of life or injuries had been reported at the time of the update.
What is confirmed so far
- A fire occurred at HPCL’s Visakhapatnam refinery on the evening of November 2.
- Police said the fire was confined to a tank and was not threatening other parts of the refinery.
- Firefighting teams from HPCL were responding; the situation was later described by a local police officer as under control.
- No deaths or injuries had been reported in the updates reviewed by Prime Today News.
What remains unclear
The precise cause of the incident, the extent of damage to refinery equipment and any impact on refinery operations had not been established in the reports available late Monday. The reported explosion sounds should not be treated as a confirmed explanation of how the fire began. Further official information from HPCL or local authorities may clarify these points.
Residents should rely on updates from local authorities and avoid approaching the refinery area. Prime Today News will update this report if verified information changes the current picture.
Sources
- NDTV: Massive Fire at Andhra Pradesh Oil Refinery After Explosion (November 2, 2026; police comments and initial incident details).
- India Today: Blast at Visakhapatnam Oil Refinery Sends Flames Soaring (November 2, 2026; later update on the response and casualty status).
- The Times of India: Fire at HPCL’s Visakhapatnam Refinery (November 2, 2026; separate local report).
Editorial note: This is a developing story. Details are limited to information reported by the cited outlets and attributed to local police. The featured image is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of the incident.
