A powerful explosion, followed by a fire, ripped through the hydro-treating unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) in Mangaluru, Karnataka, at around 12.15 pm on Wednesday, 30 September, killing one worker and injuring nine others. Authorities confirmed the blaze has since been brought under control.

The Casualty and Condition of the Injured

Mangaluru Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. confirmed to reporters that one person was killed and nine labourers sustained injuries in the incident. The deceased has been identified as Manish, 30, a resident of Haleyangadi on the outskirts of Mangaluru, who was employed as an electrician at the MRPL plant. Manish suffered fatal burn injuries in the blast; fire personnel launched a recovery operation to retrieve his body from the site.

Among the injured, Rajesh Baptist of Surathkal — who was present at the site alongside Manish — sustained 30 per cent burn injuries and is currently being treated in the ICU of Srinivasa Hospital. The remaining eight injured workers — identified as Prasad, Indrajit, Raman, Jarome, Jayaram, Avinash, Akshay, and one other — have been admitted to AG Hospital and MRPL Hospital.

What Triggered the Blast

Preliminary investigations indicate the explosion occurred at MRPL's hydro-treating unit while testing was under way. Notably, a shift change had taken place at 11.30 am — roughly 45 minutes before the blast — meaning most workers had already vacated the unit. Officials said a far larger tragedy was averted because of this timing; had the workforce been inside the unit, casualties could have been significantly higher. The exact cause of the explosion and the full extent of damage are yet to be officially ascertained.

Scale of the Blast's Impact

The force of the explosion was felt across several surrounding localities, including Panambur, Kavoor, Surathkal, and Jokatte, where residents reported houses shaking. In Jokatte, which is adjacent to the MRPL premises, doors and windows of the local Gram Panchayat office rattled and glass panes shattered at multiple locations. The blast was also captured on CCTV cameras in the vicinity.

Thick smoke blanketed the surrounding areas after the explosion. A church located approximately 2 km from the MRPL facility sustained damage — its roof tiles, windows, and doors were shattered. An Anganwadi centre adjacent to the plant also suffered structural damage, with window glass and a wall damaged; children at the centre were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Authorities at Mangaluru International Airport confirmed the blast's impact was felt on airport grounds, though no infrastructure damage or broken glass was reported there.

Government Response

Health Minister U.T. Khader, who also serves as the Mangaluru District In-Charge Minister, stated: 'The explosion occurred during testing at MRPL. Those injured in the incident have been admitted to a private hospital. The situation is now under control.' Fire tenders from the city, along with MRPL's own fire and emergency services personnel, responded to the site and worked to contain the blaze.

Local Concerns and Allegations

Local activist Muneer Katipalla alleged that the incident was foreseeable, claiming that safety concerns about the unit had been raised when it was established approximately 10 years ago. 'We agitated when the unit was established and started functioning about 10 years ago and claimed that it was dangerous. However, legislators, political parties and prominent leaders supported the company, and voices of protest were suppressed. The district administration also colluded with MRPL,' he alleged.

Katipalla further claimed that smaller incidents at the facility had previously been 'hushed up,' and called on authorities to ensure full transparency. 'Nothing should be hidden from the public, and correct information must be provided regarding the incident,' he added. He also demanded that the government either shut down the plant or relocate residents living in surrounding areas, citing health concerns including what he described as elevated cancer incidence in the vicinity. These allegations have not been independently verified, and MRPL has not publicly responded to them.

A formal investigation into the cause of the blast is expected to follow, with the full extent of structural and operational damage still being assessed.