Haldia Petrochemicals blaze rages on; 20 injured, train services disrupted

A major fire triggered by a naphtha pipeline explosion at Haldia Petrochemicals continued to rage on Tuesday, disrupting rail connectivity and road traffic in the industrial town. Thick black smoke covered the sky as firefighters continued efforts to bring the blaze under control.

The incident took place around 4 am at Chiranjeebpur in Ward No. 13 of Haldia Municipality. At least 20 people were injured in the explosion.

Fire continues to rage in Haldia

According to available information, the explosion occurred in a naphtha pipeline at Haldia Petrochemicals, leading to a massive fire. The flames quickly spread, sending dense plumes of black smoke into the air that were visible across nearby areas.

As the firefighting operation continued, authorities remained at the site to monitor the situation. Superintendent of Police Anshuman Saha, Haldia Sub-Divisional Officer Surabhi Singla and other government officials, along with local public representatives, were present at the spot.

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Initially, 12 fire tenders were deployed. As the intensity of the blaze became clear, three more fire engines were rushed to the location. Officials are continuing firefighting operations while following all necessary safety protocols due to the highly combustible nature of naphtha.

Train services hit after railway infrastructure damaged

The fire also affected Railway operations as the damaged section of the pipeline runs alongside a railway track.

Railway sources said the explosion damaged the overhead electric (OHE) line and a transformer. A section of the track was also reported to have twisted due to the impact, making it unsafe for train movement.

As a result, train services on the Howrah-Haldia and Howrah-Panskura routes have been disrupted.

List of affected trains

Railway authorities have cancelled or diverted several services on Tuesday.

Train No. 38052 Haldia-Howrah Local has been cancelled.

Train No. 38051 Howrah-Haldia Local will run only up to Durgachak instead of Haldia.

Train No. 38054 Haldia-Panskura Local will also terminate at Durgachak.

The Asansol-Haldia Express has been short-terminated at Durgachak.

Train No. 22329 Haldia-Asansol Express will originate from Tamluk instead of Haldia.

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Restoration work delayed

Railway officials said personnel from the TRD department reached the site to repair the damaged overhead electric wires. However, the repair work has not been able to begin because of the intensity of the fire.

Officials said it is not yet possible to say when train services on the affected section will return to normal.

Meanwhile, the Panskura-Haldia-Digha South Eastern Railway Passenger Welfare Association has requested the local railway administration to issue advance notifications so that passengers are informed about cancellations and diversions before starting their journey.

Apart from rail services, the Haldia Township-Durgachak Exide Road has also been closed following the fire. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as efforts to control the blaze remain underway.

FAQs:

What caused the fire at Haldia Petrochemicals?

The fire was triggered by an explosion in a naphtha pipeline at the Haldia Petrochemicals facility.

When did the Haldia pipeline explosion occur?

The explosion took place at around 4 am on Tuesday in Chiranjeebpur, Ward No. 13 of Haldia Municipality.