Full Breakdown
Major Blast and Fire at MRPL’s Coker Hydro-Treating Unit in Mangaluru
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Incident Overview
On September 30, 2026, an explosion and fire erupted at the Coker Hydro-Treating Unit (CHTU) of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) in Jokatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka. The blast was heard several kilometres away, shaking houses and rattling windows in nearby localities and producing a thick plume of black smoke visible from a distance. The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 pm, according to the Hindustan Business Line, and was reported as “around 12:20 pm” by Deccan Chronicle.
Immediate Response
Fire-tender teams from the New Mangalore Port Authority, Kadri and Pandeshwar stations were dispatched, and the MRPL emergency crew evacuated the unit. Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Deputy Commissioner H V Darshan and Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari arrived to oversee operations. The district administration ordered a visual inspection of vital installations at Mangaluru International Airport, including the Precision Approach Lighting Category I system.
Injuries and Casualties (Data & Statistics)
Reports differ on the number of people injured:
- Deccan Chronicle: “about nine persons were injured,” with one worker, Rajesh Baptist, sustaining burns over 35 % of his body.
- The Hindustan Business Line: eight injuries, one severe burn (35 %).
- The Indian Express: one severe burn and seven others with minor injuries (total 8).
- Moneycontrol (citing PTI): eight minor injuries plus a contract labourer with 35 % burns (total 9).
- CNBC TV18: eight minor injuries and one severe burn (total 9).
All outlets agree the severely injured individual was transferred to Srinivasa Hospital’s ICU and was reported “out of danger.” No fatalities were confirmed.
Official Statements
- Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Police Commissioner, emphasized that the fire was under control and urged the public not to panic.
- Capt Brijesh Chowta, MP for Dakshina Kannada, said he was in constant touch with MRPL officials, the police commissioner and fire-services officials, and appealed for calm.
- The district administration directed a safety inspection of airport installations as a precaution.
Market Reaction
Following the incident, MRPL’s shares fell sharply, dropping as much as 10 % from the day’s high of INR180.75 to an intraday low of INR162.40 at 1:50 pm, according to CNBC TV18. The decline reflected investor concern over the blast’s impact on refinery operations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Injury Count – Sources vary between eight, nine and ten injured persons due to differing classifications of “minor injuries.”
- Casualty Status – All reports state no fatalities, though wording differs.
- Cause of Explosion – The exact cause remains under investigation. The Indian Express attributes the blast to a rupture of a high-pressure cold separator in the CHTU, a detail not corroborated by other outlets.
What’s Next
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the technical cause and assess structural damage at the CHTU. MRPL has pledged to cooperate and keep the public informed. Safety inspections of nearby critical infrastructure, including the airport, are expected to continue in the coming days.