Balotra/Pachpadra, Rajasthan, April 20, 2026 - A major fire erupted on Monday afternoon at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd (HRRL) complex in Pachpadra, Balotra district, sending thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky, just 24 hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the facility.
According to officials and eyewitness reports, the blaze broke out in one unit of the under-construction or recently completed refinery-cum-petrochemical complex. Around 20-24 fire tenders were rushed to the site, and firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. No casualties have been reported. Several units were evacuated as a precautionary measure, causing brief panic among workers.
The fire reportedly originated near the Crude Distillation Unit-Vacuum Distillation Unit (CDU-VDU) area - the very section Prime Minister Modi was slated to dedicate to the nation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of the incident or the extent of any damage.
The ₹79,450 crore (approximately ₹80,000 crore) HPCL Rajasthan Refinery is India's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex. It is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government. The facility has a refining capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and is expected to significantly enhance the country's energy security, reduce fuel imports, and generate substantial employment opportunities in the region.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the project on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at around 11:30 a.m. Preparations were in full swing, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expected to visit the site for final reviews. Officials have not commented on whether the fire will affect the inauguration schedule.
This incident comes as the project, which was relaunched in 2018 after revisions, nears full operational readiness.
Further details on the cause and impact are awaited as investigations continue.
