Overview
- A loud blast and fire struck MRPL’s Coker Hydrotreater unit around midday on Wednesday, September 30, leaving one worker dead and several others wounded.
- MRPL reported the fire began after a Cold Separator operating at high pressure ruptured and said crews isolated the unit and brought the blaze under control within a few hours.
- Police identified the deceased as contract worker Manish Karkera and hospitals reported a seriously burned patient, Rajesh Baptist, with about 35% burns while others suffered minor injuries.
- The shockwave was felt kilometres away, shattering windowpanes and causing structural complaints, and authorities ordered airport checks and told local hospitals to stand ready.
- District officials have opened a detailed probe to inspect the separator, equipment integrity and safety procedures, and any extended outage could affect MRPL’s Phase-III processing until repairs are completed.