Haldia Fire: At Least 35 Injured, Train Services Halted After Massive Blaze Erupts at Naphtha Pipeline in West Bengal (Watch Video)
A massive fire at an HPL naphtha pipeline in Haldia, West Bengal, left 35 people injured, with several critical. The early-morning blaze halted local train services and required 12 fire tenders to combat. HPL authorities stated the fire may have occurred near an unauthorised naphtha theft point, and a joint probe is underway.
A massive fire erupted early Tuesday morning, June 30, at a naphtha-carrying pipeline linked to the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) refinery in East Midnapore, West Bengal. The incident has triggered widespread panic across the industrial township and left at least 20 to 35 people injured, with several victims in critical condition. Local emergency teams, alongside refinery personnel, managed to bring the raging flames under control after a multi-hour operation.
Dawn Inferno Triggers Emergency Response
The blaze was first detected in the early hours of Tuesday, with reports placing the outbreak between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Thick, black plumes of smoke billowed into the sky as intense flames quickly engulfed the pipeline area and spread toward nearby residential spaces in Chiranjibpur. West Bengal Budget 2026: Swapan Dasgupta Presents INR 4.38 Lakh Crore Budget (Watch Videos).
Massive Blaze Erupts at Naphtha in West Bengal
Massive fire broke out at the Naphtha supply pipeline at Haldia Petrochemicals. Several injured. pic.twitter.com/AddEe9AMXp
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) June 30, 2026
Initial firefighting operations commenced immediately with the deployment of two fire engines, eventually escalating to a fleet of 12 fire tenders to combat the spreading inferno. Because the pipeline is located adjacent to the railway tracks connecting Haldia with Panskura, authorities completely halted local train services on the route as a safety precaution.
Mass Casualties Reported
While local administrative officials have not confirmed any fatalities, the incident has resulted in a high number of burn injuries. A district administrative official said that at least 35 people reportedly received burn injuries following the blaze, and the conditions of some of them are critical. Local residents were the first to initiate rescue efforts before state fire personnel reached the scene. The injured individuals were initially rushed to the nearby Haldia Subdivisional Hospital. Due to the severe nature of their injuries, several critical patients were subsequently transferred to Tamluk Medical College and Hospital, while advanced cases are being shifted to Kolkata for specialised medical care. West Bengal Bus Accident: 4 Killed, Dozens Injured as NBSTC Bus Crashes Into Stationary Trailer on NH-27 in Jalpaiguri (Watch Video).
Suspected Fuel Theft Under Investigation
While early speculations pointed to a technical leak in the pipeline, an official statement issued by HPL authorities suggests a more criminal cause behind the disaster. Preliminary assessments indicate that the outbreak originated near an illegal tapping point used by fuel thieves. “Naphtha is a highly combustible and extremely flammable hydrocarbon, and the company has consistently cautioned local communities against any unauthorised access to or handling of petroleum products due to the serious safety risks involved,” the HPL statement read. The company added that a joint investigation alongside state authorities is actively underway to determine the precise trigger. “At this stage, it would be premature to comment further or attribute responsibility until the investigation is complete,” the management stated.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2026 10:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
