Fire Hits Pachpadra Refinery, Delays PM Modi's Inauguration

A massive fire erupted Monday afternoon at the under-construction Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan's Balotra district, forcing the postponement of its planned inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following day and prompting an investigation into safety protocols at the multibillion-rupee energy project.

The blaze broke out around 2 p.m. in the refinery's Crude Distillation Unit, a critical component for processing crude oil, according to officials. Thick black smoke rose high into the sky, visible for several kilometers across the Barmer region and causing alarm among nearby residents. Emergency teams responded swiftly, deploying between 30 and 35 fire tenders from Balotra and surrounding areas, along with the refinery's internal fire brigade. The facility's suppression systems activated immediately, and workers and security personnel were evacuated without incident. By late afternoon, authorities confirmed the fire had been brought under control, with no casualties reported.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas was already on site in Pachpadra to oversee preparations for the inauguration when the incident occurred. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had been scheduled...