A major fire broke out at the Pachpadra refinery in Balotra just a day before its scheduled inauguration by Narendra Modi. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, prompting immediate emergency response measures. According to the Oil Ministry, the blaze has been brought under control and no casualties have been reported.
Following the incident, authorities confirmed that the inauguration event has been postponed. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire and to implement necessary safety measures.
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The refinery, located in Rajasthan, is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and the state government. It is India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex and is expected to significantly boost domestic energy production while reducing dependence on imports.
The project was initially launched in 2013 by Sonia Gandhi under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot, with a revised launch in 2018. Beyond fuel production, the refinery is expected to support a range of petrochemical industries, contributing to regional economic growth and positioning Rajasthan as a manufacturing hub.
