A major fire broke out at state-owned HPCL refinery-cum-petrochemical complex here on Friday evening, killing nine people and injuring several others.
The fire broke out at 4 pm and was brought under control after some time. The exact cause of the accident could not be ascertained, even after a preliminary probe.

The death toll in the HPCL refinery explosion and fire soared to nine, after five charred bodies were extricated on Saturday. Rescuers found bodies under the debris of the cooling tower which collapsed following an explosion.

The authorities are also on the lookout for six more people who are still missing. About 38 people sustained serious burn injuries and they are being treated at various city hospitals. The condition of 11 of them is said to be stated to be very critical.

The crude oil catching fire has resulted in the massive blaze that triggered panic across Visakhapatnam. There were about 50 labourers working at the site and most of them were caught in the blaze. The HPCL workers blamed the management for its failure to come up with adequate safeguards at the key facility.

In a spontaneous protest, about 4,000 workers of the refinery abstained from their duties and staged a protest at the main entrance. They demanded adequate compensation for the families of the victims.

HPCL management is putting efforts to airlift the critically injured workers to Mumbai to provide better medical treatment.