Death toll due to fire rises at Hindustan Petroleum’s Vizag refinery-cum-petrochemical complex

29-Aug-13

Death toll has risen in the massive fire at state-run Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL)’s Vizag refinery-cum-petrochemical complex to 14. Currently, 23 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city while eight injured persons have been shifted to burns hospital in Mumbai. On August 23 a massive fire broke out at the sprawling complex here when staffers from private companies were at work. Prima facie a gas leak in the sea cooling water system was attributed to the massive blaze even though probe is on into the incident. As a precautionary measure, two production units have been closed and output at the refinery has been reduced to 60%. Production activity to will resume within ten days. As a precautionary measures, HPCL has cut down its production to 17,000 to 18,000 tonnes per day as against the regular capacity of 27,000 tonnes, officials said.