MRPL Fire: Surathkal Police Register FIR Against Two Officials
Mangaluru: Surathkal police have registered a case in connection with the fire that broke out at the Coker Hydrotreater Unit (CHTU) of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) at Bala, Katipalla, on Wednesday afternoon, September 30.
The FIR was registered as Crime No. 132/2026 under Sections 287, 125(b), and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, before the JMFC II Court, Mangaluru.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred at around 12:15 p.m. on September 30 at Face-3 of the Coker Hydrotreater Unit at MRPL.
The complainant has been identified as Ravi Poojary, 53, of Karkala. The FIR names the Head of the Coker Hydrotreater Unit, Face-3, and the Head of MRPL as accused in the case.
The FIR records Manish Karkada, an MRPL employee, as having died in the incident. Several other MRPL employees who sustained injuries have also been named in the FIR as victims.
According to the FIR, employees of K Star Food and Hospitality Services, who were engaged in providing food and other services, were present at the Coker Hydrotreater Unit when the incident occurred. The FIR alleges that an equipment-related failure at the unit resulted in the incident and that the accused officials were responsible for aspects relating to the operation and safety of the unit.
Police have taken up the case for investigation.
The FIR was registered at 7:20 p.m. on September 30 and dispatched to the court at 7:45 p.m.
Earlier, MRPL had stated that the fire broke out at around 12:20 p.m. following the rupture of a Cold Separator operating at high pressure. The fire was brought under control and completely extinguished by 2:47 p.m. During subsequent combing and inspection operations, the body of one deceased person was found, while another person who sustained burn injuries was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Further details are expected as the police investigation progresses.
