MANGALURU: A major explosion at the Coke Hydro Treating Unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) near Jokatte in Mangaluru on September 30 afternoon left nine workers injured and triggered panic in several surrounding areas. The blast was followed by smoke from the refinery premises, while the sound and impact were felt across parts of coastal Karnataka’s major industrial belt. Early reports from the site said emergency teams rushed to the facility and brought the situation under control.
According to Dakshina Kannada district administration officials cited in the initial reports, the incident occurred at around 12.15 pm while testing activity was being carried out at the hydro-treating unit. Nine workers sustained injuries and were shifted to different hospitals for treatment. Officials said there were no fatalities and that the fire had been brought under control.
Among the injured, Rajesh, a resident of Surathkal, reportedly suffered around 35 per cent burns and is undergoing treatment at Srinivas Hospital. Prasad, Indrajit and Raman were shifted to AG Hospital, while Jerome, Jayaram, Avinash and Akshay were admitted to the MRPL hospital. Medical teams monitored the injured.
The timing of the incident is believed to have prevented a more serious tragedy. Workers reportedly left the unit around 11.30 am for a shift change. If more employees had remained inside the facility at the time of the blast, the consequences could have been more severe.
Mangaluru Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. said emergency response teams had reached the site and that the situation was under control. Five fire tenders, ambulances and SDRF personnel were deployed as part of the response. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Naravade Vinayak Karbhari also visited the site to assess the situation.
South Kannada district in-charge minister U.T. Khader said the explosion occurred during testing at the MRPL facility and that workers were taken to private hospitals. He said there was no loss of life and that the situation had been brought under control.
The blast, however, caused considerable alarm among residents living around the refinery. People in Jokatte, Panambur, Kavoor and Surathkal reported hearing a powerful explosion, with the impact reportedly causing vibrations in houses. Early reports also said the blast damaged window panes and other structures in some nearby locations.
CCTV footage and videos recorded by residents also captured the incident’s intensity. Thick smoke rising from the refinery premises could be seen from a considerable distance, adding to the concern among people in nearby localities. Independent reports said residents across a wider area heard the loud boom, and some described feeling a shockwave.
The incident also prompted concerns about the impact on Mangaluru International Airport. Airport authorities said there was no reported damage to airport infrastructure, although the sound and effects of the blast were felt at the airport as well.
The exact cause of the explosion was not immediately established. Initial reports from the scene differed on the nature of the incident, with officials focusing on the explosion during testing while other reports speculated about equipment failure. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed technical investigation to establish what triggered the blast and whether there were any safety lapses.
The emergency response involved fire and rescue personnel, police, SDRF teams and ambulances. Officials continued monitoring the MRPL premises after the fire was brought under control.
The explosion has once again brought attention to industrial safety around large petroleum and petrochemical installations. MRPL is a major refinery and petrochemical complex in the Mangaluru region, and any major incident at the facility can affect workers as well as nearby residential areas.
