Now Reading: Blast at Mangalore refinery: one seriously injured, fire under control
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Blast at Mangalore refinery: one seriously injured, fire under control
A blast followed by a fire at the hydro sulphur treatment unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) near Mangaluru on Wednesday, 30 September, left one man with serious burn injuries.…
A blast followed by a fire at the hydro sulphur treatment unit of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) near Mangaluru on Wednesday, 30 September, left one man with serious burn injuries. Rajesh Baptist suffered burns covering about 35% of his body and was admitted to Srinivasa Hospital’s ICU, where doctors say he is out of danger, police said.
Six others at an adjacent office had minor injuries and received outpatient treatment. The explosion sent dense black smoke billowing and was heard several kilometres away, shaking houses in Jokatte and Surathkal and rattling windows at Mangaluru airport. Fire tenders and emergency teams responded, and the fire was brought under control. The district administration ordered a visual inspection of airport installations. Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta spoke to officials and appealed for calm.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three sources report a fire and explosion at an MRPL hydro sulphur treatment unit near Mangaluru, with one person injured. Times of India and Deccan Herald give casualty figures matching the previous version, one serious injury (Rajesh Baptist, 35% burns, out of danger) and six minor cases, while Times Now, citing ANI, puts the injured at eight and separately reports cracks in buildings, a detail the other two omit. Times Now also leads with the dramatic spectacle ('chilling incident', 'spine-chilling videos'), framing the event as a regional shock, whereas Times of India and Deccan Herald balance the blast description with early official reassurance, police saying no major concern, MRPL confirming no casualties. Across all three, the key official statements (commissioner’s comment, airport inspection order, MP Brijesh Chowta’s appeal) are uniform. The coverage is largely straight reporting with one outlet leaning into sensationalist presentation, no source is pro- or anti-government.
Coverage: 3 sources, 2 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (3): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), deccanherald.com (neutral report), timesnownews.com (sensationalist)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 30 September 2026: this story now draws on 3 sources.
