Fire at India petrochemical plant injures over 20

A fire at a petrochemical plant in eastern India injured at least 20 people, five of them critically, according to police. The blaze erupted Tuesday in a naphtha pipeline at a facility operated by Haldia Petrochemicals in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal state, and quickly spread to nearby homes.

Firefighters utilized 12 fire engines to bring the situation under control, while the injured were transported to local hospitals. Naphtha, a highly flammable petroleum product essential for producing fuels and chemicals, was involved in the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though preliminary information suggests it may have originated near an unauthorized naphtha theft point.

The incident also caused disruptions to train services due to damage to nearby overhead railway equipment. Haldia Petrochemicals stated it is investigating the event and cautioned communities against unauthorized access to petroleum products.