On Monday, 2 November, A massive fire broke out at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) Visakh Refinery in Visakhapatnam. It triggered panic in nearby residential areas but caused no casualties.
The blaze was reported at around 10 PM at a pitch intermediate storage tank in the refinery’s sulfur unit in Malkapuram. The fire reportedly originated near a tank containing Ruf Pitch Oil, an intermediate product used in bitumen manufacturing, sending towering flames and thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.
Social media posts included several videos and photos of the incident, showing massive flames illuminating the night sky above the port city and thick smoke billowing from the facility.
Massive fire in HPCL oil refinery plant in Visakhapatnam https://t.co/yFyxTs4yTD
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) November 2, 2026
In a statement on X, HPCL said that its Fire and Safety Team promptly activated emergency response measures, and the fire was localised to the pitch tank area and brought under control within a short time.
Malkapuram Circle Inspector E. Narasimha Rao confirmed that the fire involved sulfur pitch, a waste or bottom product generated at the facility, and that there were no casualties or injuries. “There are no casualties, no injuries, and no major issues. Everyone is safe, and there is no need for panic,” Rao said.
HPCL’s own fire tenders handled the situation initially, with the Andhra Pradesh Fire Department subsequently deploying equipment to fully extinguish the blaze. The company confirmed that all units of the refinery were operating safely following the incident
Fire Incident at HPCL Visakhapatnam Refinery A fire incident was reported at the pitch intermediate storage tank at Visakh Refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), at around 10 PM on November 2, 2026. Fire & Safety Team of Visakh Refinery promptly activated the firefighting and emergency response measures. The fire was localized to pitch tank area and was brought under control within a short time. There has been no casualties. All the Units of the Refinery are working safely. HPCL remains committed to the highest standards of safety and emergency preparedness. @HardeepSPuri @TheSureshGopi @PetroleumMin @Secretary_MoPNG
— Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (@HPCL) November 2, 2026
Meanwhile, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Dileep Chakravarthy, who visited the site, said the fire was fully extinguished using the firefighting equipment installed at the plant and equipment deployed by the Andhra Pradesh Fire Department.
He further said, “There is no cause for worry, and no injuries or casualties have been reported. People are requested not to panic about the incident,”. Describing the incident, the RDO said a small blast was reported at the refinery, following which a fire broke out.
Police Commissioner Shankabrata Bagchi confirmed no casualties, while the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Visakh Refinery, which processes 15 million metric tonnes of oil annually. It is a critical component of India’s energy infrastructure. The incident comes amid heightened concern over safety at energy facilities across the country. As a precaution, the adjacent Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) terminal also activated safety protocols.
