Eight injured in explosion at IOC's Mathura refinery, operations unaffected

At least eight people were injured in an explosion at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) refinery in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday evening. The blast occurred around 8:30 pm when the atmospheric vacuum unit (AVU) of the refinery was being restarted following a 40-day maintenance shutdown. The explosion, believed to have been caused by a furnace malfunction, led to a fire erupting in the unit. The force of the blast was significant enough to be heard in the vicinity, raising alarms among workers and nearby residents.

Refinery officials quickly activated their internal emergency response systems to control the fire. The firefighting teams successfully contained the blaze, and the fire was extinguished without further spread. Initial reports suggest that no major damage occurred to the plant machinery, and refinery operations resumed as usual shortly after the incident. The refinery's production continued without any significant interruptions, and normal operations at the facility were restored the following day.

Eight workers sustained injuries, primarily burn-related, from the explosion. Four of the injured workers were reported to be in critical condition and were rushed to the City Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, where they were admitted to the ICU. The remaining injured workers were treated on-site and their conditions were stabilized. According to medical sources, all injured individuals are currently in stable condition and are receiving ongoing medical care.

This explosion follows another fire-related incident at IOC’s Gujarat refinery, which occurred just a day earlier. On Monday, a tank fire at the 13.7 MTPA Gujarat refinery killed two people and injured two others. Both incidents have prompted investigations to determine the causes behind the explosions and to assess the safety measures in place at these facilities. The refinery in Mathura has been subject to routine safety checks following the incident, with authorities conducting a detailed investigation into the technical and safety aspects of the blast.

The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a relief operation, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing authorities to provide immediate medical aid and support to the injured workers. A team from the local police and fire department is working alongside refinery officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the blast occurred during the restart of the AVU, which is part of the refinery's crude distillation unit.