MRPL shares fall 5% after explosion at Mangaluru refinery
Shares of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) declined over 5% following an explosion at its Mangaluru refinery on Wednesday. The blast resulted in one fatality and injuries to nine others, with thick smoke emanating from the facility. An employee was killed and nine others were injured, one of them seriously, in the fire that erupted after the explosion at the MRPL premises in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district.
The explosion was reported around 12:30 pm at the refinery located in Kuthethoor, north of Mangaluru city. According to MRPL's statement, the incident followed the rupture of a high-pressure cold separator operating in the Coker Hydrotreater unit. Manish Karkara, 30, a contractual employee, was reported missing after the incident and his body was later found in charred condition. Another employee, Rajesh, 42, suffered serious burns and is undergoing treatment in a hospital ICU, while eight others sustained minor injuries. The sound of the explosion was reportedly heard in areas around Mangaluru International Airport, several kilometres away, and caused damage to nearby residential areas including shattered windows and damaged walls.
The refinery's fire and emergency response teams brought the fire under control. Police said the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained and an investigation is underway. Senior police and district officials are monitoring the situation at the MRPL premises.
