India’s MRPL Refinery Blast Kills One, Injures Eight, Police Say

An explosion at India’s Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) near Jokatte killed one person and injured eight people on Wednesday, police said.

Police identified the deceased as Manish Karkera, 30, from Mulky town.

His body was badly burned, according to a report by easternmirrornagaland.com

The injured were taken to hospital, where one was in critical condition, police added.

MRPL described the incident as a fire caused by the rupture of a high-pressure cold separator in its Coker Hydrotreater Unit around noon.

The company said the blaze was extinguished after about two and a half hours.

“During the subsequent combing and inspection operations following the firefighting activity, the body of one deceased person was found at the affected site,” MRPL Chief General Manager Rudolph V. Noronha said in a statement.

The company said one person with burn injuries was receiving treatment in hospital.

The statement did not address the other injuries reported by police.

Noronha said the affected unit was immediately isolated and emergency response and firefighting teams were deployed.

The blast shook nearby homes, prompting residents to rush outside, fearing an earthquake.

Reports of damage included cracked walls, broken windows and shattered roof tiles at a nearby church.

The explosion was heard 10–12 kilometres away and was followed by a large plume of thick black smoke. Fire crews from Mangaluru, Pandeshwar and nearby areas responded.

The incident occurred in the Jokatte area, where the refinery’s third plant is located.