A massive explosion took place in Indian Oil Corporation's refinery on the Agra-Delhi National Highway in Mathura on Tuesday night, injuring 12 people. Videos surfaced on social media showed flames visible from several kilometres away.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by flames shooting up from the refinery. About 12 people were injured in the incident, Senior Corporate Manager Renu Pathak said. The management of the refinery has ordered a probe to determine the cause of the explosion, she said.
A fire broke out after an explosion in the Atmospheric Vacuum Unit (AVU) of the main plant, which was being restarted after a month-and-a-half shutdown for maintenance work, she said. Eight workers sustained burn injuries, five of whom received immediate treatment at the refinery's medical facility. Three of the more seriously injured workers were transferred to Delhi's Apollo Hospital, the official statement read.
The explosion was heard between 8.30 pm and 9.00 pm, refinery police station Inspector Sonu Kumar said, adding that they initially attempted to control the fire internally and once they managed to contain the blaze, they informed the local authorities. Traffic on the highway in front of the refinery was temporarily halted.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure quality treatment is given to the injured persons. The incident comes a day after a blast in a benzene storage tank of an Indian Oil refinery in Gujarat's Vadodara. Two people were killed and an IOCL official received injuries in the fire.