VISAKHAPATNAM, India — A fire broke out late Monday evening at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Visakh Refinery, officials said, originating in the Pitch Tower of the newly integrated Residue Upgradation Facility. The sudden explosion and intense flames caused brief panic among residents in neighbouring localities. HPCL's internal Fire and Safety Department responded immediately with its own fire tenders, bringing the blaze under control and eliminating the need for external fire engines. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The RUF unit processes heavy vacuum residue oil into high-value clean fuels such as diesel and petrol. High operating temperatures and dense petroleum pitch generated thick black smoke during the fire outbreak. Automated safety protocols allowed on-duty personnel to be evacuated safely while firefighting teams isolated the unit, preventing the flames from spreading to adjacent facilities. Although structural damage within the pitch unit is expected to be significant, HPCL confirmed the incident and said a technical committee would investigate the exact cause of the fire. The company added that primary processing units remain operational and fuel supply chains will not be affected.