Fire at MRPL refinery unit in Mangaluru; one minor injury reported

Residents near MRPL in Mangaluru reported a loud explosion-like sound on Wednesday, followed by visible thick smoke.

A fire broke out at a high-pressure unit at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) around noon on Wednesday following a rupture of a cold separator in the Coker Hydrotreater Unit, the company said.

Mangaluru: Smoke erupts after a loud explosion-like sound was reported from the MRPL premises, near Jokatte in Mangaluru, Karnataka, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (PTI)

The affected unit has been isolated and MRPL's emergency response and firefighting teams brought the fire under control, the company said in a statement.

"Fire has been brought under control," MRPL said, adding that firefighting operations may continue for some time as part of the safe handling of the incident.

One person suffered a minor injury and was shifted to hospital, where the individual is out of danger and receiving medical attention, the company said.

No major injuries have been reported.

The company said it was closely monitoring the situation, with personnel safety and the facility as its highest priority.

"There is absolutely no reason to panic for individuals within and outside MRPL premises," the company said.

MRPL, a subsidiary of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) that owns and operates the 15 million tonnes a year oil refinery, said it would share further verified information as it becomes available.