Massive Naphtha Pipeline Fire in Haldia Leaves Several Injured, Triggers Emergency Response

A major fire broke out in a naphtha pipeline near the Haldia industrial belt in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving several people injured and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The blaze, which erupted around 2:45 a.m., sent towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, causing panic among residents living near the affected area.

According to officials, the fire originated in a naphtha pipeline connected to the Haldia Petrochemicals complex. Firefighters rushed to the site with multiple fire engines and battled the intense blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Emergency teams worked continuously to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby industrial installations and residential neighbourhoods.

At least 20 people, including workers and security personnel, sustained burn injuries in the incident. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while those with severe burns were referred to specialised medical facilities. Authorities said medical teams remained on standby as rescue operations continued.

The incident also affected nearby residential areas, with reports of damage to a few houses due to the intensity of the fire. As a precautionary measure, railway authorities temporarily suspended train movement on the Haldia–Howrah route, citing safety concerns arising from the proximity of the blaze to railway infrastructure. Services were restored only after officials confirmed that the situation had stabilised.

Senior officials from the district administration, police, and disaster management agencies visited the site to oversee rescue and firefighting operations. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire. While authorities initially said the reason behind the incident was yet to be established, preliminary information indicated that the blaze may have been linked to an unauthorised naphtha theft point near the pipeline. Officials stressed that the investigation would establish the sequence of events leading to the accident.