Fire at Haldia Refinery in West Bengal Injures 35, Several in Critical Condition
A major fire at the Haldia refinery in West Bengal, India, has injured at least 35 people, with reports indicating that several victims are in serious condition. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, and released footage shows thick smoke and large flames engulfing the area.
According to Indian media reports, the fire originated in an oil pipeline at the East Medinipur district. Initial reports suggest that lightning struck prior to the fire, possibly damaging part of the pipeline and causing the sudden outbreak.
Haldia Petrochemicals, which operates an ethylene production unit with an annual capacity of 700,000 tons in the state, issued a statement confirming awareness of the incident at its facility. The company said it has received reports of several injuries and is currently investigating the exact cause of the fire.
The majority stake in the company is held by The Chatterjee Group (TCG), a private firm based in the United States. At the time of this report, no further details regarding financial damages or the full status of the injured have been released.
