The blaze is confined to a sulphur pitch (Ruf Pitch Oil) tank; police and HPCL officials confirm no threat to other units and no casualties so far. Multiple fire tenders from the refinery and city services are engaged; the cause remains under investigation while operations continue.
BY PC Bureau
November 2: A major fire erupted at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Visakh Refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday evening following reports of sudden explosion-like sounds at the facility.
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Thick plumes of black smoke rose high over the surrounding industrial and residential neighbourhoods of Malkapuram, Sriharipuram and Gajuwaka, triggering panic among local residents. Several videos of towering flames quickly circulated on social media.
HUGE INFERNO at HPCL REFINERY in Visakhapatnam, India — towering flames light up SKY
MASSIVE SMOKE PLUME rises above the facility
Refinery processes 15 MILLION METRIC TONNES PER ANNUM https://t.co/2h4cBr4NXf
— RT (@RT_com) November 2, 2026
According to initial information, the fire broke out near or at a sulphur pitch (Ruf Pitch Oil) tank. Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi confirmed that the blaze remains confined to the affected tank and poses no immediate threat to other sections of the refinery.
HPCL’s internal firefighting teams, supported by additional fire tenders from the city, are actively battling the flames. As a precaution, power supply to the affected area was suspended and personnel were moved to safer locations. Police have secured the perimeter.
Authorities stated that the smoke is not considered hazardous at this stage. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation; HPCL sources have indicated that a full tank explosion appears unlikely.
Firefighting operations are continuing and the situation is being closely monitored.
