One Killed, Nine Injured After Explosion at MRPL Refinery in Mangaluru; Fire Brought Under Control

One person was killed and nine others were injured after an explosion triggered a fire at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) facility near Mangaluru in Karnataka on Wednesday. The fire was later brought under control following an emergency response at the refinery. The incident took place at the refinery’s Coker Hydrotreater Unit. According to officials, a cold separator operating at a pressure of around 70 bar ruptured, leading to the explosion and subsequent fire. Emergency teams were immediately deployed to the affected area as efforts began to contain the blaze.

The deceased worker was identified as 30-year-old Manish Karkara, a contract worker at the facility. His charred body was recovered from the premises after the fire was brought under control. Nine other workers were injured in the incident and were taken for medical treatment.

One of the injured workers reportedly suffered serious burn injuries, while the remaining workers sustained comparatively minor injuries. Authorities and emergency personnel worked to secure the affected section of the refinery and prevent the incident from spreading to other units. The explosion was heard in nearby areas, with residents reporting a loud blast followed by thick black smoke rising from the refinery. Some residents also reported damage to windowpanes and other minor damage to structures in surrounding areas.

Fire tenders and emergency response teams were rushed to the refinery following the incident. The affected unit was isolated as part of the efforts to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of personnel working in other sections of the facility. Officials said the fire had been contained and there was no immediate indication that it had spread beyond the affected unit. Safety teams continued monitoring the area after the flames were brought under control.

The incident has raised concerns about safety procedures and equipment functioning at the refinery, although authorities have not yet established the precise cause of the separator failure. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the rupture and whether any safety protocols were breached.

MRPL officials and local authorities are assessing the extent of the damage caused by the explosion. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses and officials examine the equipment involved in the incident. The refinery is one of the major industrial facilities in the Mangaluru region, and the incident prompted a large-scale emergency response. Authorities are also expected to review safety measures at the facility following the fatal accident.