Haldia Petrochemicals says June fire was not caused by its naphtha pipeline

File Photo: Haldia: Firefighters conduct a dousing operation as dark smoke and flames billow after a major fire broke out at a naphtha-carrying pipeline of Haldia Petrochemicals, leaving more than 10 people injured, in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

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Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) said on Monday that its naphtha pipeline did not cause last month’s fire near its plant in eastern India.An independent committee including specialists in industrial and fire safety concluded the incident was a vapour-cloud fire with a mild explosion, triggered by an unidentified ignition source, HPL said in a statement.The committee found the flammable material was hydrocarbon vapour or gas rather than liquid naphtha, which had initially been suspected as the source of the fire, HPL said.A pressure test report found no leaks in HPL’s and nearby pipelines, the company said.The company had previously said the fire happened at a place where naphtha — a volatile, highly flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture produced during refining — had been stolen in the past.HPL said operations at its plant were not affected by the fire.Published on July 27, 2026