Tragic Fire in Haldia: One Fatality and Over 20 Injured in Naphtha Pipeline Blaze
Fire Incident at Haldia Petrochemicals
Haldia/Kolkata: A devastating fire erupted in a naphtha pipeline belonging to Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, early Tuesday morning, resulting in one death and injuries to over 20 individuals, according to police reports.
The blaze persisted for more than 15 hours, primarily affecting a small segment of the pipeline. Tragically, a 38-year-old woman died from her injuries at a local hospital.
Among the injured, four individuals are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment in city hospitals, while 16 others are being cared for at various medical facilities in the district.
"The fire has mostly been controlled, except for a small area near the pipeline that continues to burn due to the presence of naphtha," stated a senior police official.
"The naphtha's presence has hindered complete extinguishment of the fire, which may take an additional eight to ten hours to fully douse," he added.
The fire was first detected around 2:45 AM and quickly spread, affecting several homes in the Chiranjibpur area of Ward 13 within Haldia Municipality.
"Manu Bibi, the wife of Robaiyul from Bhabanipur, succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. The condition of four others remains critical. Three individuals were discharged after receiving initial treatment," the officer noted.
Twelve fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and firefighting efforts are ongoing, according to police.
"More than 20 people, primarily locals, sustained injuries in the incident, with five in critical condition. Some are being treated locally, while others have been referred to hospitals in Kolkata," he explained, mentioning that two security personnel from the company were among the injured.
Initially, the injured were taken to Haldia Sub-Divisional Hospital, with five later transferred to Tamluk Medical College and Hospital.
"Firefighters are utilizing foam and fly ash, and we hope to extinguish the fire soon," the officer remarked, noting that several houses were completely destroyed.
"We suspect that a leak from the naphtha pipeline may have caused the fire, but a formal investigation will determine the exact cause," he stated.
The fire also caused damage to overhead railway infrastructure nearby, disrupting train services, officials reported.
In a statement, HPL indicated that preliminary findings suggest the incident may have occurred near an unauthorized naphtha theft site close to its facility.
Naphtha is a highly flammable hydrocarbon, and HPL has consistently warned local communities against unauthorized access to or handling of petroleum products due to safety concerns.
"It would be premature to make further comments or assign blame until the investigation concludes," the company stated, emphasizing its commitment to fully cooperate with investigative authorities.
"Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident," it added.