A severe fire broke out at a naphtha solvent pipeline at a petrochemical plant in West Bengal, India, injuring at least 20 people. Authorities quickly dispatched fire trucks to control the situation.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday local time at the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited plant in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.
Following the fire, officials deployed 12 fire trucks to extinguish the blaze, while evacuating and assisting the injured to local hospitals. The fire was brought under control later.
Haldia Petrochemicals stated in an initial announcement that preliminary information suggests the fire may have been caused by an unauthorized attempt to steal naphtha solvent. However, the exact cause remains under investigation.
Naphtha is a petroleum refining product that is highly flammable and serves as a key raw material for producing fuels, plastics, and various chemicals, posing high risks if leaked or ignited.
The company has set up a task force to thoroughly investigate the fire's cause and is coordinating with relevant agencies to assess damages and prevent similar incidents.
:AP
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