Fire Tears Through Indian Petrochemical Plant, Injuring at Least 20

New Delhi— At least 20 people were injured, including five critically, after a fire broke out on Tuesday at a petrochemical plant in eastern India’s West Bengal state, police said.

The blaze erupted in a naphtha pipeline at a facility operated by Haldia Petrochemicals in Purba Medinipur district, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Kolkata, before spreading to nearby residential areas.

Police said firefighters deployed 12 fire engines to contain the fire, while rescue teams evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals. Those hurt included plant employees and at least two security guards.

Video footage from the scene showed emergency personnel battling the flames as thick black smoke billowed from the burning pipeline.

Naphtha is a highly flammable petroleum product widely used in the production of fuels and petrochemicals, making pipeline fires particularly hazardous.

Authorities said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined.

Haldia Petrochemicals said in a statement that it had launched an investigation into the incident. The company did not immediately provide further details on the extent of the damage or whether plant operations had been affected.

MEmergency response operations remained underway as officials assessed the site and investigated the circumstances surrounding the fire.