A major fire breaks out at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s (HPCL) Visakh Refinery in Visakhapatnam, leading to fears of an explosion and widespread concern among people in nearby industrial areas. Flames and thick smoke are reported around the facility, with social media videos drawing attention to the incident.

Officials and police confirm there are no casualties, while the cause of the blaze remains unclear. Some outlets describe the fire as occurring near an oil tank containing ruf pitch oil and note that rumours of an explosion circulate even as officials suggest that scenario is unlikely. Across reporting, the focus is on the incident’s visible impact—fire and smoke—along with the ongoing inquiry into what triggered the fire.

Overall, the sources largely agree on the location, that it involves HPCL’s Visakhapatnam refinery, that the event is under investigation, and that no injuries or deaths are reported, while details about the suspected mechanism vary.