Mangaluru MRPL Blast: MP Brijesh Chowta Appeals to People Not to Panic
After an explosion and fire at the MRPL refinery near Jokatte left several workers injured, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta urged residents to stay calm and avoid spreading rumours.
Coastal Samachar Desk
2 min read
Update: One contract worker has died in the blast. Read the latest report.
Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has appealed to people not to panic after an explosion and fire at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) complex on Wednesday, 30 September.
"All necessary safety measures are being taken and I appeal to the public not to panic," Chowta said, according to Deccan Chronicle. He urged citizens to remain calm, not spread rumours or misinformation, and extend full cooperation to the administration.
What happened
The blast took place at the MRPL complex near Jokatte, around 12:30 pm, Oneindia reported. The sound was heard and felt in surrounding areas including Bajpe, Kalavar, Baikampady, Surathkal and Katipalla, with some residents reporting damage to windows.
Initial reports linked the explosion to a high-pressure unit in the refinery's Coker Hydrotreater section. The exact cause is under investigation.
Injured workers
Eight people were injured, according to media reports. Some reports said two of them were in critical condition and were being treated at a private hospital in Mangaluru. No deaths had been reported at the time of the reports.
Fire tenders from Mangaluru, Pandeshwar and the New Mangalore Port Authority were deployed to assist with firefighting.
MP visits the site
Chowta said he was in constant touch with MRPL officials, the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, Bajpe Town Panchayat officials and the fire department. He cancelled his scheduled programmes and visited the refinery to assess the situation, NewsKarnataka reported. Local hospitals were asked to stay prepared for emergencies.
What residents should do
- Rely on official updates from the district administration, police and MRPL.
- Don't forward unverified messages, photos or videos on WhatsApp and social media.
- Keep emergency numbers handy: 112 (emergency), 101 (fire) and 108 (ambulance).
This is a developing story. Coastal Samachar will update it as officials share more information.
